Billy

Meaning of Billy

Billy is a diminutive of William, meaning "resolute protector" or "will-helmet." It implies a strong-willed and protective individual.

Billy has Germanic roots — browse every Germanic baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Billy

After ranking as high as #384 in 2001, Billy has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Billy

• Billy Joel
  Legendary singer-songwriter, pianist
• Billy Crystal
  Iconic comedian, actor, host
• Billy Graham
  Influential evangelist, religious leader
• Billy Dee Williams
  Actor, Lando Calrissian in Star Wars
• Billy Idol
  Iconic punk rock singer

More Germanic names

Questions about the name Billy

What does the name Billy mean?

Billy means billy is a diminutive of william, meaning "resolute protector" or "will-helmet." it implies a strong-willed and protective individual, and it comes from Germanic origins.

Is Billy a boy's or a girl's name?

Billy is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Billy?

Billy did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Billy most popular?

Billy peaked at #384 in 2001.