The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Billie!

Comments and insights on the name Billie: | Edit

Hi, I'm called Billie. I'm fourteen years old and kids these days are rather cruel, i get teased constantly teased about having a boys name. I actually really like my name and i think its more feminine than it's cracked up to be.

I am also a Billie. I was born in 1982. I was never teased for my name. It might have helped that there weren't any boys named Billy in my grade. Most of my experience's have been when meeting someone new they always ask "is that your real name?". I say yes and then they say, "your parent's must have wanted a boy". I've never felt bad and never wished I had a different name. Actually, I can't even think of a name that would suit me better. I think Billie is feminine but not too girly and that is perfect for me. I also liked that my name was different. There were so many Jennifer's, Sara(h)'s, growing up I was glad I was the only one with my name.

Personal experiences with the name Billie: | Edit

I was given the name Billie in the year 1950 in Boston, Massachusetts. In the 1950's, all the other girls had names like Jane, Judy, Mary, Nancy, and Susan. So I got teased a lot about my name: "That's a BOY'S name," "Your parents wanted a BOY but they got you instead," ha-ha-ha. I learned how to deal with that, but then I started junior high school. On the first day of school, I was given a printed schedule of classes, and was horrified to discover that I had been assigned to the BOYS' gym class! Worse than that, when the Math teacher called the roll, she called out "William Goldstein." When I replied, in a timid voice, "It's Billie," she thundered without looking up from the roll, "We do not allow NICK NAMES in this school."

Later, I learned that Billie was not an uncommon name for girls in the South, and that my parents got the idea when my father was stationed in Texas during WWII and they met female with that name in the military. Eventually, I started appreciating having a name that's a little different. I suspect that a girl named Billie in this decade wouldn't suffer the stigma I did, because kids seem much more willing to accept different names. Am I right?? I'd love to hear from other Billies. I'd also love to hear from anyone who has a mother, or grandmother, who is named Billie and was stationed in Texas around 1942.

Nicknames for Billie: | Edit

Bil, Bill, Billz, Lee, Illie

Meanings and history of the name Billie: | Edit

Can be given as a name on its own, as a feminine version of the male name Billy, or as a nickname for Wilhelmina, Willow or Willa.

Famous real-life people named Billie: | Edit

Billie Burke, American actress, played "Glinda" in the Wizard of Oz (stage name)(1884-1970)
Billie Dove, American actress, silent movies (stage name)(1903-1997)
Billie Holiday, American jazz singer (stage name)(1915-1959)
Billie Jean King, American tennis player (1943-)
Billie Piper, English singer and actress (stage name)(1982-)

Billie in song, story & screen: | Edit

Billie Jean, Michael Jackson song, VERY popular.
Billie Jenkins, young witch on Charmed (tv show - main character in season 8)