Bailey Unisex
Origin(s)
PronunciationBAY-lee / /ˈbeɪli/English; Irish
Meaning
English: bailiff; Irish: from the meadow
Historical & Cultural Background
Bailey originated as a surname in England, derived from the Old French 'bailli', meaning 'bailiff' or 'steward'. It became popular as a given name in the 20th century. In Ireland, it is associated with geographical features, referring to a meadow. The name has been used for both boys and girls, though it is more commonly given to girls in recent years.
Trend Summary
Bailey has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., often ranking within the top 100 names for boys in the early 2000s.
Similar Names
Variants
- Bailee
- Baileigh
International Variants
- Bailey (English)
Famous people named Bailey
Bailey Smith is a professional American football player known for his time in the NFL.
Bailey Zappe is an American football quarterback who gained attention during his college career.
Bailey H. Smith was an American politician who served in various local government roles.
Fictional characters named Bailey
Bailey is a character in the animated film 'A Dog's Purpose', representing a loyal canine companion.
Bailey is a character in the TV series 'The Bailey School Kids', known for solving mysteries with friends.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Bailey was first seen in the United States in 1880. Bailey has ranked as high as #287 nationally, which occurred in 1997, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, and Florida. In the past 5 years the name Bailey has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Bailey (2024)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 13 | |
| CA | 11 | |
| PA | 10 | |
| NY | 9 | |
| OH | 9 | |
| NC | 7 | |
| KY | 6 | |
| MI | 6 | |
| AL | 5 | |
| GA | 5 | |
| IL | 5 | |
| VA | 5 | |
| MS | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 12 |
| 1881 | 8 |
| 1882 | 8 |
| 1883 | 8 |
| 1884 | 6 |
| 1885 | 7 |
| 1886 | 7 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1889 | 10 |
| 1890 | 13 |
| 1891 | 10 |
| 1892 | 10 |
| 1893 | 16 |
| 1894 | 11 |
| 1895 | 10 |
| 1896 | 8 |
| 1897 | 13 |
| 1898 | 14 |
| 1899 | 11 |
| 1900 | 19 |
| 1901 | 12 |
| 1902 | 10 |
| 1903 | 5 |
| 1904 | 10 |
| 1905 | 10 |
| 1906 | 15 |
| 1907 | 14 |
| 1908 | 7 |
| 1909 | 9 |
| 1910 | 10 |
| 1911 | 11 |
| 1912 | 26 |
| 1913 | 24 |
| 1914 | 34 |
| 1915 | 34 |
| 1916 | 50 |
| 1917 | 33 |
| 1918 | 37 |
| 1919 | 36 |
| 1920 | 48 |
| 1921 | 48 |
| 1922 | 39 |
| 1923 | 33 |
| 1924 | 44 |
| 1925 | 30 |
| 1926 | 32 |
| 1927 | 36 |
| 1928 | 45 |
| 1929 | 35 |
| 1930 | 42 |
| 1931 | 35 |
| 1932 | 41 |
| 1933 | 35 |
| 1934 | 30 |
| 1935 | 37 |
| 1936 | 34 |
| 1937 | 41 |
| 1938 | 34 |
| 1939 | 38 |
| 1940 | 31 |
| 1941 | 33 |
| 1942 | 31 |
| 1943 | 27 |
| 1944 | 32 |
| 1945 | 31 |
| 1946 | 31 |
| 1947 | 28 |
| 1948 | 27 |
| 1949 | 31 |
| 1950 | 35 |
| 1951 | 29 |
| 1952 | 34 |
| 1953 | 25 |
| 1954 | 29 |
| 1955 | 28 |
| 1956 | 27 |
| 1957 | 31 |
| 1958 | 21 |
| 1959 | 28 |
| 1960 | 15 |
| 1961 | 14 |
| 1962 | 21 |
| 1963 | 22 |
| 1964 | 23 |
| 1965 | 15 |
| 1966 | 22 |
| 1967 | 26 |
| 1968 | 13 |
| 1969 | 26 |
| 1970 | 20 |
| 1971 | 19 |
| 1972 | 15 |
| 1973 | 18 |
| 1974 | 16 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1976 | 15 |
| 1977 | 18 |
| 1978 | 16 |
| 1979 | 19 |
| 1980 | 30 |
| 1981 | 26 |
| 1982 | 41 |
| 1983 | 30 |
| 1984 | 40 |
| 1985 | 39 |
| 1986 | 41 |
| 1987 | 65 |
| 1988 | 77 |
| 1989 | 88 |
| 1990 | 87 |
| 1991 | 102 |
| 1992 | 119 |
| 1993 | 129 |
| 1994 | 188 |
| 1995 | 1,010 |
| 1996 | 1,550 |
| 1997 | 2,296 |
| 1998 | 2,239 |
| 1999 | 2,208 |
| 2000 | 1,755 |
| 2001 | 1,234 |
| 2002 | 851 |
| 2003 | 759 |
| 2004 | 599 |
| 2005 | 477 |
| 2006 | 365 |
| 2007 | 355 |
| 2008 | 277 |
| 2009 | 219 |
| 2010 | 196 |
| 2011 | 168 |
| 2012 | 121 |
| 2013 | 124 |
| 2014 | 135 |
| 2015 | 111 |
| 2016 | 110 |
| 2017 | 144 |
| 2018 | 128 |
| 2019 | 120 |
| 2020 | 93 |
| 2021 | 119 |
| 2022 | 119 |
| 2023 | 151 |
| 2024 | 155 |