The name Billi is a short form of the female given name Wilhelmina, which is derived from the German masculine name Wilhelm. Wilhelm comes from the Germanic elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire", and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection". Therefore, the name Billi means "strong-willed protection" or "resolute protection".
The name Wilhelmina was first used as a female name in Germany during the Middle Ages. It became more popular throughout Europe during the 19th century, particularly among royal families and nobility. For example, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was born in 1880 and reigned from 1890 to 1948.
The name Billi has been used as an independent given name since at least the mid-20th century. It is considered a unisex name, although it is more commonly associated with females. In recent years, the name Billi has gained popularity in English-speaking countries such as the United States and Australia.
Some notable people named Billi include American actress Billi Gordon, who was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and Australian cricketer Belinda "Billi" Clark, who played for the national team from 2004 to 2008.
The name Billi has seen a varied journey in popularity over the years in the United States, as reflected in the birth statistics provided.
The earliest recorded births with the name Billi were in the year 1915, with five instances. There was another spike in popularity during World War II, with five births each in 1942 and 1944, followed by six births in both 1948 and 1949.
The most significant period of popularity for the name Billi was during the late 1950s to early 1970s. In this span of about twenty years, there were over a thousand births recorded with the name Billi. The peak year was 1971, with eighty-one births.
However, after 1976, the popularity of the name Billi began to decline steadily. By the turn of the century, fewer than ten babies were being named Billi each year. This trend has continued into the current decade, with six or fewer births recorded annually since 2014.
In total, over the course of a century, from 1915 to 2020, there have been 1740 babies named Billi in the United States. This demonstrates that while the name has had periods of popularity and obscurity, it remains a part of American naming history nonetheless.