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Home › Baby Names Directory › Bailey

Bailey

♂ Boy

Pronounced BAY-lee /ˈbeɪ.liː/Low

Meaning: Bailiff, steward, officer of the lawLow

In 30 seconds: Bailey is an English occupational surname meaning bailiff or law officer, from the Old French baillif. Used for both boys and girls, it has a warm, approachable quality that has made it consistently popular in the United States.
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Origin LowEnglish, Old French
MeaningBailiff, steward, officer of the law
U.S. rank (2025)#1358 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births138 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1997
Total births (all-time)≈ 21,741

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199718802025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Bailey derives from the Old French baillif meaning bailiff or administrator of a lord's estate. It became an English occupational surname and then crossed over as a given name in the 20th century, used for both boys and girls.

Bailey has been a name in the United States for both boys and girls. It has a breezy, friendly quality that keeps it perennially popular.

Did you know? A bailiff in medieval England was a steward who managed a lord's land and enforced the law — an important, responsible position. The name Bailey thus carries the heritage of someone trusted with authority and stewardship, a quietly powerful meaning.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Bailey

Variations

BayleeBaileighBailee

Nicknames

BayLee

Famous Bearers

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If you like Bailey…

Hadley— Same -ley surname name structure
Brayden— Two-syllable surname name of same generation
Rodney— shares the -ey ending
Marley— echoes that soft -ey sound
Sidney— the same classic feel

Explore names like Bailey

By themeenglishclassictwo-syllableoccupationalgender-neutralpopular

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Frequently Asked

What does Bailey mean?

Bailey means bailiff or steward of a lord's estate, from the Old French baillif meaning law officer.

Is Bailey a boy or girl name?

Bailey is gender-neutral and used for both boys and girls in the United States.

How do you pronounce Bailey?

Bailey is pronounced BAY-lee with two syllables.

What names are similar to Bailey?

Similar names include Hadley, Finley, and Riley.

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