How Many People Are Named Billy?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Billy

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 11,497 living people in the United States currently have the first name Billy. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 16,643 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #164 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~11,497CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)16,643Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#164U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1957 (308 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~11,497
Historical Births (SSA)
16,643
All-Time Rank
#164
Historical Peak
1957

Key Insights for Billy

Estimated Living Bearers
~11,497 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#164
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
1957
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
93.5% Male · 6.5% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~1,437 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Billy

Living Population Model
~11,497

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
16,643

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
12,121

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
48.7 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1957

Highest annual total: 308 registrations in 1957.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (-1%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Billy has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Billy (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1957 (~308 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
2010103967
2011102957
2012101947
2013101947
2014100937
2015100937
2016100937
201799927
201899927
201999927
202099927
202199927
202299927
202398917
202498917

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
76/100
1950s
98/100
1960s
94/100
1970s
67/100
1980s
36/100
1990s
14/100
2000s
36/100
2010s
33/100
2020s
16/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Billy has been predominantly masculine (93.5% male vs 6.5% female).

Male: 93.5% (~15,558 births)Female: 6.5% (~1,085 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Billy

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Billy in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Billy appeared 12,121 times, ranking #46 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
12,121 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#46
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Billy Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~1,437 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~1,43712.5%
Texas (TX)~1,0589.2%
Florida (FL)~7826.8%
New York (NY)~7016.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~4604%
Illinois (IL)~4483.9%
Ohio (OH)~4143.6%
Georgia (GA)~3793.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 11,497 people named Billy are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 48.7 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Billy: 48.7 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Frequently Asked Questions About Billy

How many people in the U.S. are named Billy?

Approximately 11,497 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Billy. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 16,643 birth applications for Billy between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Billy?

Billy ranks #164 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Billy comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Billy most popular in America?

The name Billy reached its peak historical popularity in 1957, when 308 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Billy?

Billy has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Billy?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Billy has been predominantly masculine (93.5% male vs 6.5% female).

Where is the name Billy most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Billy resides in California, with approximately 1,437 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Billy in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Billy appeared 12,121 times in census returns, ranking #46 in official 2020 returns.

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