Declining since 1985, #5,208 for boys today.
Popularity of Bill since 1880
Babies named Bill per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1947, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Bill's real moment was 1934.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 600 |
| 1890s | 789 |
| 1900s | 1,513 |
| 1910s | 6,599 |
| 1920s | 22,288 |
| 1930s | 32,338 |
| 1940s | 37,756 |
| 1950s | 23,877 |
| 1960s | 25,132 |
| 1970s | 5,206 |
| 1980s | 1,815 |
| 1990s | 1,153 |
| 2000s | 845 |
| 2010s | 423 |
| 2020s | 140 |
Meaning & origin
Bill has been in continuous use since at least 1880, when it first appeared in U.S. records. Its peak year was 1934, when it ranked among the top names. Since 1985, its popularity has been steadily falling, and in 2025 it ranked 5,208th, with only about 1 in 94,893 boys receiving the name. While it has no top states associated with it, Bill remains a familiar, classic short form of William, evoking a straightforward, approachable character that was especially popular in the early 20th century.
Bill originated as a medieval diminutive of William, which itself derives from the Old Norman French Willaume, ultimately from the Germanic elements 'wil' (will, desire) and 'helm' (helmet, protection). In the 19th and 20th centuries, Bill became a common standalone given name in English-speaking countries, particularly associated with a friendly, everyman image.
Where Bill is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Bill” around the world
Where Bill lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Billy
Sibling names for Bill
Names that share Bill's style, for a brother or sister.
