The first name Bill
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /bɪl/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 9 boys were named Bill, making it the 2,440th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1997, with 27 births (#613).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Bill with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Bill at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 18 boys born in the United States were named Bill, the 5,235th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1947, when 4,681 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Bill in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Bill in Dutch, Polish and Portuguese too.
Famous people named Bill
354 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Bill Clinton42nd President of the United States (1993–2001)
- Bill CosbyAmerican actor and comedian (born 1937)
- Bill IrwinAmerican actor, clown, and comedian (born 1950)
- Bill de Blasio109th Mayor of New York City from 2014 to 2022
- Bill MaherAmerican stand-up comedian and television host, born 1956
- Bill NighyBritish actor (born 1949)
- Bill PullmanAmerican actor (born 1953)
- Bill TildenAmerican tennis player (1893–1953)
- Bill HicksAmerican comedian (1961–1994)
- Bill NyeAmerican science educator, comedian, television host, actor, writer, scientist and mechani, born 1955
- Bill NelsonAmerican politician and attorney (born 1942)
- Bill WattersonAmerican comic artist, born 1958
Questions
- What does the name Bill mean?
- 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?
- In 2025, 9 boys born in England and Wales were named Bill, ranking 2,440th. Its peak was 1997, with 27 births.
- Is Bill a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 161,190 US babies named Bill since 1880 were boys.
- When was Bill most popular?
- 1947 in the United States, when 4,681 babies were named Bill, its highest rank at 76th.
- How do you pronounce Bill?
- Bill is /bɪl/, one syllable.
- Is Bill also a surname?
- Yes. Bill is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.