Names › Girls' names › B › Bailey
Bailey
Meaning: bailiff · Origin: English · Gender: usually a girl's name
Origin & history
Bailey comes from a Middle English surname for a bailiff. It became a popular unisex first name in the US in the late 20th century, including for girls.
Popularity of Bailey in the US, 1880–2025
2025: 1,446 US baby girls named Bailey — #208 for girls · Peak: 5,198 in 1998 · 1950: fewer than 5 · 2000: 4,649 · 2020: 1,670
Source: US Social Security Administration (SSA) national baby-name data, 1880–2025 (names.zip). Counts are babies of that gender given exactly this spelling each year; SSA leaves out a name in any year with fewer than 5 births.
How to pronounce Bailey
BAY-lee · IPA /ˈbeɪli/ (common American English pronunciation)
Language of origin
English surname — bailiff or steward
How the meaning and use of Bailey developed
Bailey began as an occupational and place-name surname and became a popular unisex given name; this site lists it among girls.
Related names from the same root
Bayley · Bailee
Sibling names that go well with Bailey
Sister: Blakely · Callie
Brother: Emerson · Tatum
Our editorial suggestions — similar era, style and length — chosen from names with full pages on this site.
Nicknames
Bay
Variants & related names
Bayley, Bailee
Bailey name art
A free preview of a printable “Bailey” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
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FAQ
What does the name Bailey mean?
Bailey means “bailiff”. It comes from English.
How do you pronounce Bailey?
Bailey is usually pronounced BAY-lee (/ˈbeɪli/).
Is Bailey a popular name?
In 2025, Bailey ranked #208 among girls' names in the United States, given to 1,446 baby girls, according to US Social Security Administration data. Its peak year was 1998 (5,198 babies).
What are nicknames for Bailey?
Bay.
What are other forms of Bailey?
Bayley, Bailee.
What are good sibling names for Bailey?
Sister: Blakely, Callie. Brother: Emerson, Tatum.
Similar names
Summer · Taylor · Wren · Annie · Gracie · Hadley
Browse: English names · all origins & themes
More: names starting with B · all girls' names · name art for any name
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.