Bill
Literal root meaning: “will + helmet”
About the name Bill
Bill is a boy name with Proto-Germanic roots, literally “will + helmet”. It is related to William, which is where the meaning comes from.
It has a vintage, unique, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Bill ranked #5235 for boys in the US, with 18 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1947. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Bill were boys.
Etymology
A diminutive of William, which comes from Proto-Germanic, meaning “will” + “helmet”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Bill”, “William”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- #5235
- In 2015
- #3377
- Babies in 2025
- 18
Popularity of Bill, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Nicknames for Bill
Bill is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Bill
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.