Bill
Bill: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /bษชl/ ยท [bษชษซ]
Meaning and origin of Bill
- A diminutive of the male given name William.
- A diminutive of the male given name Bilal.
Etymology
Hypocorism of William. It is unclear how the initial W became a B; this could have been part of the medieval trend of swapping letters, similar to Dick for Rick.
How popular is Bill?
Since 1880, 716 girls and 160,474 boys in the U.S. have been named Bill (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1241 in 1932. Its highest rank for boys was #57 in 1931. In 2025, 18 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Bill
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Bill
Names that peaked around the same time as Bill and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Bill FAQ
What does the name Bill mean?
A diminutive of the male given name William. A diminutive of the male given name Bilal. Hypocorism of William. It is unclear how the initial W became a B; this could have been part of the medieval trend of swapping letters, similar to Dick for Rick.
How popular is the name Bill?
Since 1880, 716 girls and 160,474 boys in the U.S. have been named Bill (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1241 in 1932. Its highest rank for boys was #57 in 1931. In 2025, 18 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Bill a boy or girl name?
Bill is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 716 girls and 160,474 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880โ2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.