Bailey Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Bailey is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Bailey?
Bailey is spelled B-A-I-L-E-Y. The name has 6 letters.
Bailey at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Bailey originally meant “bailiff” or “enclosure,” derived from Old English and Old French terms referring to a lawful officer or the outer wall…
- Origin
- Bailey is commonly associated with English origins and may derive from a medieval occupational name or topographical term for someone living by or…
- Pronunciation
- BAY-lee · 2 syllables
Bailey Popularity in 2025
Rank#208
Recorded Births1,446
Rank#1,358
Recorded Births138
- Girls usage fell 26 places to #208 and recorded 206 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 87 places to #1,358 and recorded 17 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Bailey Mean?
Bailey originally meant “bailiff” or “enclosure,” derived from Old English and Old French terms referring to a lawful officer or the outer wall of a castle.
Origin: Bailey is commonly associated with English origins and may derive from a medieval occupational name or topographical term for someone living by or working at a bailey, the outer fortification of a castle.
How Do You Pronounce Bailey?
PronunciationBAY-lee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Bailey?
- History
- The surname Bailey was historically used in England and later adopted as a given name in English-speaking countries. It appears in various historical records linked to the occupation of a bailiff or to persons residing near a castle's enclosure.
Bailey Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,446 | #208 |
| 2025 | Boys | 138 | #1,358 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,652 | #182 |
| 2024 | Boys | 155 | #1,271 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,683 | #172 |
| 2023 | Boys | 151 | #1,271 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,649 | #182 |
| 2022 | Boys | 119 | #1,516 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,775 | #162 |
| 2021 | Boys | 119 | #1,496 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,670 | #172 |
| 2020 | Boys | 93 | #1,685 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,819 | #157 |
| 2019 | Boys | 120 | #1,450 |
| 2018 | Girls | 2,181 | #133 |
| 2018 | Boys | 128 | #1,375 |
| 2017 | Girls | 2,433 | #125 |
| 2017 | Boys | 144 | #1,264 |
| 2016 | Girls | 2,712 | #116 |
| 2016 | Boys | 110 | #1,522 |
| 2015 | Girls | 2,853 | #107 |
| 2015 | Boys | 111 | #1,491 |
| 2014 | Girls | 2,951 | #104 |
| 2014 | Boys | 135 | #1,306 |
When Was Bailey Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1998 · Girls
5,198 recorded births
National rank #60
1997 · Girls
5,024 recorded births
National rank #65
1999 · Girls
4,809 recorded births
National rank #65
2000 · Girls
4,649 recorded births
National rank #68
Where Bailey Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| VT | #57 | 7 |
| SC | #104 | 40 |
| NH | #121 | 10 |
| VA | #131 | 57 |
| AK | #134 | 5 |
| MD | #144 | 33 |
| GA | #149 | 65 |
| AL | #151 | 28 |