Billie is a gender-neutral name of English origin, derived from the French name William, which means "resolute protection." The name Billie has been used as a unisex given name for centuries but gained significant popularity in the early to mid-20th century. It was often used as a nickname for both boys and girls named after William or Wilhelmina. Today, Billie is still employed as a given name but has also become popular as a surname in English-speaking countries. Some famous individuals with the name Billie include Billie Holiday, an influential jazz singer from the 1930s and 40s, and Billie Jean King, a renowned tennis player who won 39 Grand Slam titles during her career.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Billie has seen a significant decline in popularity over time in the United States. From a peak of 523 births in 1925, there was a steady decrease to a total of only 8 births in both 2020 and 2023.
The trend shows a gradual reduction throughout much of the 20th century, with Billie being particularly popular during the early-to-mid 1900s. However, by the mid-1960s, its popularity had begun to wane significantly. The lowest point was reached in recent years, with only single-digit numbers of births recorded annually between 2015 and 2023.
Despite this decline, it is interesting to note that there have been no zero birth years for Billie since the records began in 1880, indicating that while its popularity has certainly fluctuated over time, the name Billie has remained present in some capacity throughout history.