Billy vs Cal
Billy and Calcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Billy was ranked #39 and Cal #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Billy was ranked #127 and Cal #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Billy was ranked #256 and Cal #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Billy and Cal over time
Billy and Cal appear together in 3 published lists, across 67 years of shared records. Billy held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Cal in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Cal reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Billy in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Billy moved ahead of Cal in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #286 and #286 the year before became #174 and #261.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Billy rose about as far as Cal fell — from #303 and #303 in 1987 to #39 and #509 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Billy held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Cal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Billy #68 in 1998, Cal #1188 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Billy #127, Cal #2263.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1987–2025
Billy held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Cal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Billy #39 in 2025, Cal #261 in 1997.
The order changed in 1997: Billy moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #286 and #286; by 1997 that had become #174 and #261.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Billy #39, Cal #509.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2000–2024
Billy held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Cal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Billy #187 in 2008, Cal #244 in 2000.
The order changed in 2004: Billy moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #281 and #281; by 2004 that had become #219 and #264.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Billy #256, Cal #305.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Billy | Cal |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #39 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Billy has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Cal.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Billy
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1970–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 1970–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Cal
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #303 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #244 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys