Bailey Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BAY-lee //ˈbeɪli//
Origin: English; Irish
Meaning: English: bailiff; Irish: from the meadow
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Bailey has its roots in the Old French term "bailli," which means "bailiff" or "steward." This term was derived from the Latin word "bajulus," meaning "carrier" or "porter." The name entered the English language during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Old French terms were adopted into English, particularly in legal and administrative contexts. As a surname, Bailey was commonly used to denote someone who held the position of a bailiff or steward, eventually evolving into a given name by the 19th century.
Historically, the name Bailey has been associated with various notable figures and events. In medieval England, individuals with the surname Bailey often held positions of authority, which contributed to the name's association with responsibility and leadership.
The name appears in various historical documents, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was used to denote landholders and officials. Over the centuries, Bailey has been borne by several notable individuals, including saints and local leaders, which further solidified its standing in English-speaking cultures.
Culturally, the name Bailey has resonated with themes of stewardship and guardianship, reflecting its etymological roots. It has been used in literature and popular culture to evoke a sense of reliability and trustworthiness.
The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Bay, which have been used affectionately in familial contexts. Overall, Bailey's historical significance and its associations with authority and care have contributed to its enduring presence in the English lexicon.
Famous people named Bailey
In this section, you will find notable people named Bailey. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Bailey who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Bailey who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Bailey Sarian is a makeup artist and YouTuber best known for her Murder, Mystery & Makeup series.
Bailey Wright is a professional footballer best known for playing as a defender for Sunderland and the Australian national team.
Bailey Chase is an actor best known for his roles in Saving Grace, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Longmire.
Bailey Zimmerman is a country music singer best known for his songs Fall in Love and Rock and A Hard Place.
Fictional characters named Bailey
The following list of fictional characters named Bailey is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Bailey is a fictional character from the novel and film A Dog's Purpose. He is a loyal dog who reincarnates through several lives, each time helping his owners find happiness.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Bailey, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Bailey. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Bailey was first seen in the United States in 1916.
Bailey has ranked as high as #133 nationally, which occurred in 1998, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Bailey has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Bailey is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Bailey was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Bailey (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 145 | |
| TX | 129 | |
| FL | 92 | |
| NY | 80 | |
| GA | 77 | |
| OH | 71 | |
| NC | 64 | |
| VA | 61 | |
| PA | 58 | |
| TN | 51 | |
| CO | 41 | |
| MO | 39 | |
| SC | 39 | |
| IN | 38 | |
| MD | 38 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Bailey.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,644 |
| 2023 | 1,682 |
| 2022 | 1,648 |
| 2021 | 1,774 |
| 2020 | 1,667 |
| 2019 | 1,819 |
| 2018 | 2,180 |
| 2017 | 2,433 |
| 2016 | 2,712 |
| 2015 | 2,853 |
| 2014 | 2,950 |
| 2013 | 3,019 |
| 2012 | 3,417 |
| 2011 | 3,317 |
| 2010 | 3,598 |
| 2009 | 3,643 |
| 2008 | 3,906 |
| 2007 | 3,934 |
| 2006 | 2,980 |
| 2005 | 2,991 |
| 2004 | 3,309 |
| 2003 | 3,467 |
| 2002 | 3,662 |
| 2001 | 4,339 |
| 2000 | 4,649 |
| 1999 | 4,809 |
| 1998 | 5,199 |
| 1997 | 5,024 |
| 1996 | 4,192 |
| 1995 | 3,489 |
| 1994 | 2,351 |
| 1993 | 2,134 |
| 1992 | 1,730 |
| 1991 | 1,435 |
| 1990 | 1,260 |
| 1989 | 1,051 |
| 1988 | 942 |
| 1987 | 611 |
| 1986 | 500 |
| 1985 | 309 |
| 1984 | 267 |
| 1983 | 153 |
| 1982 | 110 |
| 1981 | 84 |
| 1980 | 56 |
| 1979 | 17 |
| 1978 | 6 |
| 1975 | 5 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1925 | 6 |
| 1916 | 6 |