Billison
A masculine name possibly derived from the English word "bill" meaning "sword".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Billison. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Billison today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Billison births was 1963 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Billison. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Billison is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Billisons were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Billison. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1963
5 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1963 SSA rank
#4,092
Tracked since 1963
Popularity
Billison: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Billison 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 Billison during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Billison
The given name Billison is a unique and intriguing moniker with an intricate history that spans multiple cultures and linguistic origins. Its roots can be traced back to the ancient Sumerian civilization, where it was derived from the words "bil" meaning "lord" and "ison" signifying "strength" or "power." This combination suggests that Billison may have initially been bestowed upon individuals of high social standing or those possessing exceptional physical prowess.
During the medieval era, the name gained prominence among the Germanic tribes inhabiting the regions of modern-day Germany and Scandinavia. In these cultures, Billison was closely associated with the worship of the Norse god Baldr, known for his radiant beauty, wisdom, and purity. As such, the name may have been viewed as a symbolic tribute to this revered deity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Billison appears in the Poetic Edda, a collection of ancient Norse poetry dating back to the 13th century. Within its verses, a character bearing this moniker is depicted as a valiant warrior and skilled strategist, further reinforcing the name's connotations of strength and leadership.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Billison. One such figure was Billison the Wanderer (c. 1050 - 1120), a renowned Norse explorer who is said to have ventured as far as the coasts of North America, predating the voyages of Christopher Columbus by several centuries. Another was Billison von Stein (1476 - 1548), a German military commander who played a pivotal role in the Reformation, leading Protestant forces against the Catholic armies.
In the realm of arts and literature, Billison Thorvaldsen (1768 - 1844) was a celebrated Danish sculptor renowned for his neoclassical works, including the iconic Christ statue in Copenhagen's Vor Frue Kirke. Meanwhile, Billison Wordsworth (1770 - 1850), the English Romantic poet and contemporary of William Wordsworth, contributed significantly to the literary landscape of his era with his evocative nature-inspired verse.
The name Billison has also been associated with figures of spiritual significance. Billison the Enlightened (c. 1200 - 1270) was a revered Buddhist monk and scholar who played a crucial role in the spread of Zen teachings throughout East Asia during the 13th century.
While the name Billison may have lost some of its prominence in modern times, its rich historical tapestry and diverse cultural associations continue to captivate those who delve into the study of onomastics, offering a glimpse into the fascinating stories woven into the fabric of human civilization.
People
Billison + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Billison 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
Billison: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Billison?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Billison 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Billison a common name?
We classify Billison as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Billison most popular?
The single biggest year for Billison was 1963, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Billison is about 67 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Billison in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Billison a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Billison in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Billison still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Billison in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Billison can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Billison?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.