Billy Goat Direct

Before the 18th and 19th centuries, goats were simply referred to as "he-goats" or "she-goats". The shift to more familiar names came later:

Popularized in the 19th century, "Billy" is a diminutive of William. Interestingly, some folklore suggests the name might have originally been paired with "Annie goat," which eventually slurred into the modern "nanny goat". billy goat

While "billy" is the common term, farmers and professionals often use "buck" for intact males and "wether" for castrated males. Mythology and the "Greatest of All Time" Before the 18th and 19th centuries, goats were