Bailey
Bailey is a given name derived from the surname Bailey. The most likely derivation of the surname is from bailli, the Anglo-Norman equivalent of bailiff.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Bailey
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Bailey is a given name derived from the surname Bailey. The most likely derivation of the surname is from bailli, the Anglo-Norman equivalent of bailiff.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Bailey
As a girl name
American parents first put Bailey on the record books as a girl name in 1916, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1998, when 5,199 Baileys were born — ranking #60 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 33% of all recorded Baileys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #189 among girl names with 1,639 births, falling sharply (-16%). In total, more than 113K Baileys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Bailey as a boy name dates back to 1880, when 12 babies received it. 1997 was its biggest year on record, with 2,296 newborns named Bailey — #151 in the national rankings. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 45% of all recorded Baileys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,203 among boy names with 170 births, rising sharply (+25% over the past five years). In total, more than 22K Baileys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Bailey
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Bailey. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Bailey
Phonetically similar names — useful when Bailey is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bailey
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About the name Bailey
Bailey is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1916 and has accumulated 113K births in the dataset. Bailey's peak popularity came in 1998 when it ranked #60. Use the chart and map above to compare Bailey's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1998 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "B" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.