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Bailey

♀ Girl

Pronounced BAY-lee /ˈbeɪ.li/High

Meaning: Bailiff, outer wall — from Old French <em>baillif</em> (agent, administrator) or Old English <em>bailif</em> (the outer court of a castle)High

In 30 seconds: From Old French 'bailiff' or the outer wall of a castle, Bailey is a cheerful surname-name that crossed to girls in the 1990s and became a top-100 staple, projecting warmth and energy.
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Origin HighOld French, Old English
MeaningBailiff, outer wall — from Old French <em>baillif</em> (agent, administrator) or Old English <em>bailif</em> (the outer court of a castle)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)≈ 96,816

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199819162017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Bailey is an English surname of Old French origin, from baillif or bailiff, referring to an agent or administrator who managed a lord's estate, or from the Old French baile (the outer court of a castle). It became a common English occupational surname in the medieval period.

Bailey transitioned from surname to given name in the United States during the 1990s, primarily for girls. It entered the U.S. top 100 girls' names in the late 1990s and remained there into the 2000s. It fits the friendly, approachable surname-name trend alongside names like Hayley, Hailey, and Harley.

Did you know? The famous phrase 'the Old Bailey' refers to London's Central Criminal Court, built on the site of the original city wall (the 'bailey'). The building and phrase have been fixtures of British crime fiction for over a century.

Variations

BayleeBaileeBayleigh

Nicknames

BailBay

Famous Bearers

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If you like Bailey…

Hailey— variant spelling of Haley with the same cheerful -ley energy as Bailey
Hadley— Old English -ley surname-name sharing Bailey's appealing accessible sound

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bailey mean?

Bailey comes from Old French <em>baillif</em> meaning 'bailiff' or 'estate administrator,' or the outer wall of a castle.

How do you pronounce Bailey?

Bailey is pronounced BAY-lee /ˈbeɪ.li/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Bailey a boy or girl name?

Bailey is now used primarily as a girls' name in the U.S., though it originated as a surname used for both sexes.

How popular is Bailey?

Bailey was in the U.S. top 100 girls' names from the late 1990s through the 2000s and remains popular today.