Billy is a boy's name of English origin. It is a diminutive form of William, which means "resolute protection" or "strong-willed warrior." The name Billy has been popular throughout history and has been worn by several notable figures.
One of the most famous Billys was Billy the Kid, whose real name was Henry McCarty. Born in the mid-19th century in New York City, he became a notorious outlaw and gunfighter in the American Wild West. He was known for his quick draw and his involvement in several shootouts.
Another notable figure with the name Billy was Billy Joel, an American singer-songwriter born in 1949. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with hits such as "Piano Man" and "Uptown Girl." His music has been influential in the rock genre and continues to be popular today.
The name Billy has also been used in literature and pop culture. For example, it was the name of the main character in the classic novel "Billy Budd" by Herman Melville. Additionally, the name Billy is often associated with the children's television show "Billy and Blaze," which aired in the 1960s.
Overall, the name Billy has a strong and vibrant history, with notable figures ranging from outlaws to musicians and literary characters. Its meaning, "resolute protection" or "strong-willed warrior," reflects its association with strength and determination throughout history.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends regarding the name Billy in the United States from 1899 to 2023.
The name Billy first gained popularity around the early 1900s, with a consistent increase in births each year until it reached its peak in the late 1920s. The most notable years for this name were:
* 1925: 126 births
* 1926: 147 births
* 1927: 157 births
* 1928: 159 births
During the Great Depression era (late 1920s to mid-1930s), the popularity of the name Billy started to decline, reaching its lowest point in 1946 with only 42 births. This trend continued until the early 1940s.
After World War II, there was a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Billy, with birth numbers fluctuating between 38 and 72 from 1947 to 1952. However, this increase was short-lived, and the popularity of the name began to decline once again.
From the mid-1950s until the late 1960s, the name Billy maintained a steady but low level of popularity, with fewer than 60 births per year on average. This trend continued through the 1970s and into the early 1980s.
Starting in the mid-1980s, there was another decline in the popularity of the name Billy, reaching an all-time low in 1984 with only 27 births. This low level of popularity persisted until the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In recent years (2010-2023), the name Billy has experienced a modest resurgence, with birth numbers ranging from 5 to 16 per year. In 2021 and 2022, there were 15 and 16 births respectively, indicating that the name is still being used but at a significantly lower rate than its peak in the early 20th century.
In summary, the name Billy has had several periods of popularity and decline throughout the years. Its most notable heyday was during the late 1920s, with a significant drop-off occurring around the time of the Great Depression. Since then, the name's popularity has remained relatively low but steady, with occasional fluctuations over the decades.
Despite its varying levels of popularity, the name Billy continues to be used in the United States, as demonstrated by the recent birth numbers. It is essential to note that these statistics only represent the United States and may not reflect global trends regarding this name.