NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Billyray

A masculine given name combining the diminutive forms of William and Raymond.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Billyray is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Billyray popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2012 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Billyray is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Billyray. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2013 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Billyray ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 boys were registered as Billyray.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Billyray as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4805

2012

Births in 2012

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Billyray mean?

The name Billyray is a unique and uncommon given name that has its roots in the English language. It is a combination of two distinct names, Billy and Ray, which have been fused together to create a distinctive and memorable moniker.

The first part of the name, Billy, is a diminutive form of the name William, which is of Germanic origin. William is derived from the Old German name "Willihelm," which is composed of the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire," and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." The name gained popularity in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when it was introduced by the Norman nobility.

The second part of the name, Ray, is derived from the Old French word "rai," which means "ray" or "beam of light." This name has its roots in the Latin word "radius," which also means "ray" or "beam." Ray was originally used as a surname, but over time, it became a popular given name as well.

While there are no known historical references or ancient texts mentioning the name Billyray specifically, the combination of Billy and Ray has likely been in use for several centuries. The earliest recorded examples of individuals bearing this name are relatively recent, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Billyray was Billyray Larmour, a baseball player from the United States who was born in 1884 and played professionally in the early 1900s. Another notable figure was Billyray Stevenson, an Australian cricketer who played domestic cricket in the 1920s and 1930s.

In the realm of literature, Billyray Pennington was an American writer and poet who published several works in the mid-20th century, including the poetry collection "Echoes of a Distant Shore" (1953). Billyray Chambers was a British artist and sculptor active in the late 20th century, known for his abstract metal sculptures.

Lastly, Billyray Hoskins was a Canadian musician and songwriter who gained recognition in the folk and country music scenes in the 1970s and 1980s, releasing several albums and touring extensively throughout North America.

While the name Billyray may not be as common as many other given names, it has a unique charm and a rich history that combines elements from different linguistic and cultural traditions. Its uncommon nature adds to its distinctiveness and makes it a compelling choice for those seeking a name that stands out from the crowd.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Billyray by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Billyray was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #4805 3 1

Related

Names similar to Billyray

FAQ

Billyray: questions and answers

How popular is the name Billyray in the UK right now?

In 2012, Billyray was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Billyray most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Billyray in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Billyray?

A masculine given name combining the diminutive forms of William and Raymond.

How many people are called Billyray in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Billyray across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.