Find out how popular the first name Bill has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Bill by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Bill is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Bill being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 22 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Bill.

The history of the first name Bill

The given name Bill has its origins in the Old Germanic nameBildi, which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word *bildan, meaning "to make" or "to form." This name was initially used in various Germanic tribes, such as the Franks and the Saxons, during the early medieval period.

In the 8th century, the name Bildulfus, a combination of the elements "bildan" and "wulf" (meaning "wolf"), appeared in Frankish records. Over time, this name evolved into the Old English form Bilwald, which later became the more familiar William.

The name William gained widespread popularity in Europe after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, when William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, ascended to the English throne. This event helped to establish the name as a prominent one in England and other parts of Europe.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the shortened form Bill can be found in the 14th century, when it was used as a nickname for William. The name Bill, or its variations like Will and Wil, became increasingly common as a standalone name in the following centuries.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Bill. One of the earliest examples is Bill Longespee, an English nobleman and military commander who lived from around 1212 to 1260. Another notable figure was Bill Cullen, an English Catholic martyr who was executed in 1575 for his religious beliefs.

In more recent times, Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States (born in 1946), is one of the most famous bearers of the name. Other notable Bills include Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft (born in 1955), and Bill Cosby, the American comedian and actor (born in 1937).

The name Bill has also appeared in literature and popular culture. For instance, Bill Sikes was a notorious villain in Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist," published in 1838. Additionally, the character Bill Denbrough was a central figure in Stephen King's horror novel "It," published in 1986.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Bill was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bill, please contact us.

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