Billiejean
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a blend of Billie and Jean.
Name Census estimates that about 185 living Americans carry the first name Billiejean. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Billiejean today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Billiejean births was 1984 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Billiejean. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
185
~ 1 in 1,852,726 Americans
Peak year
1984
16 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
2017 SSA rank
#16,280
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Billiejean: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Billiejean from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 66 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Billiejean by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Billiejean during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Billiejeans live
Origin
Meaning and history of Billiejean
The name Billiejean is a unique combination of two distinct names - Billie and Jean. Its origins can be traced back to the early 20th century, primarily in English-speaking countries.
The name Billie is a diminutive form of the traditional English name William, which itself is derived from the Germanic name Willahelm, meaning "will helmet" or "desire protection." The name Billie gained popularity as a feminine name in the early 1900s, particularly in the United States, as a shortened version of the name Wilhelmina or Wilhemina.
The name Jean, on the other hand, has its roots in the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." It was later adopted into French as Jeanne and subsequently anglicized to Jean. Jean has been a popular name for both males and females throughout history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Billiejean can be found in the 1983 hit song "Billie Jean" by the legendary pop artist Michael Jackson. The song's lyrics were inspired by a fan who claimed that Jackson was the father of one of her twins, despite Jackson's denial. While the name itself did not have any specific historical references prior to this, the song's massive popularity helped to introduce the name to a global audience.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Billiejean, albeit as separate first and middle names:
1. Billie Jean King (born 1943) - American former professional tennis player and a pioneer for gender equality in sports.
2. Billie Jean Moffitt (1926-2008) - American singer and actress, known for her roles in various Western films and television shows.
3. Billie Jean Isbell (born 1990) - American actress and model, known for her roles in television series like "True Blood" and "The Walking Dead."
4. Billie Jean Davenport (born 1958) - American actress and director, known for her work in theater and television.
5. Billie Jean Horton (1924-2008) - American singer and songwriter, known for her contributions to country and Western music.
While the name Billiejean is relatively rare, its unique combination of two distinct names and its association with the iconic Michael Jackson song have made it a recognizable and intriguing choice for parents seeking a name that stands out.
People
Billiejean + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Billiejean as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Billiejean: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Billiejean?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 185 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Billiejean going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,852,726 US residents.
Is Billiejean a common name?
We classify Billiejean as "Very Rare". It ranks above 73.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 196 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Billiejean most popular?
The single biggest year for Billiejean was 1984, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Billiejean is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Billiejean a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Billiejean in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.