Unisex
Middle English
2 syllables
Bailey
BAY-lee
/ˈbeɪli/
"The keeper" — friendly, dependable, and always in charge
Bailey derives from the Old French 'bailli,' the title for a medieval administrator or sheriff's officer responsible for maintaining order. As a surname it spread widely in England; as a first name it emerged in the late 20th century, riding the wave of occupational surnames becoming given names. Warm and approachable, it works equally well for boys and girls, though it has skewed female in recent years.
Quick Facts
Letters6
SyllablesBai · ley
GenderUnisex
OriginMiddle English
Root WordBailli
MeaningBailiff, steward, administrator
PopularityPopular
Peak Year2003
Trend
→ Stable
Nicknames
BailsBayBailLee
About the Name Bailey
Bailey comes from the Middle English and Old French 'bailli,' meaning 'bailiff' or 'steward' — a medieval administrator who managed an estate or maintained law in a district. As a name it carries connotations of reliability and responsibility.
Bailey is unisex but is now given predominantly to girls in the US and UK. It has followed the pattern of many occupational surnames (Tyler, Ashley, Taylor) that shifted from male to female use over time.
Bailey peaked in the early 2000s and has been declining since. It remains in the top 100 for girls but is no longer among the top tier of trendy names.
Bailey Anne, Bailey Grace, Bailey Rose, Bailey Mae, and Bailey Jo are all warm, natural combinations that suit the name's friendly character.
Bails is the most common nickname. Bay and Lee are also used. Because the name is only two syllables, many people use the full name.
Bailey derives from the Old French bailli, meaning a legal administrator or sheriff's officer. It became a common English surname in the medieval period and transitioned to a first name in the late 20th century.
Personality of Bailey
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Bailey
Creativity
70%
Elegance
65%
Independence
75%
Intelligence
72%
Strength
70%
Warmth
88%
Famous People Named Bailey
B
Bailey's Irish Cream
The world's best-selling Irish cream liqueur, one of Ireland's most famous exports
B
Bill Bailey
British comedian and musician known for his surreal wit and extraordinary musical talent
B
Bailey from Party of Five
Bailey Salinger, a main character in the 1990s American family drama Party of Five
Middle Names for Bailey
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Bailey
Bailey Anne
Bailey Rose
Bailey Lynn
Bailey Grace
Bailey Marie
Bailey Sue
Bailey Jo
Bailey Mae
Bailey Faith
Bailey Kate
Bailey Elise
Bailey Jade
Names Similar to Bailey
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Bailey
1250s
Bailli is established as a formal legal and administrative title in medieval England, responsible for overseeing justice in a district
1800s
Bailey solidifies as a common English surname, found throughout census records in England and colonial America
1982
Bailey appears on the US given name charts for the first time, initially predominantly for boys
1995
Bailey begins rising sharply for girls, following the trend of surnames becoming feminine first names
2003
Bailey reaches its US peak at #25 for girls, one of the most popular surname-names of the early 2000s
Numerology & Symbolism of Bailey
9
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
6
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Taurus
4
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Warm Tan
💎
Lucky Stone
Tiger's Eye
🌸
Lucky Flower
Chamomile
Bailey Around the World
How Bailey is written in different languages and scripts
بيلي
Arabic
ベイリー
Japanese
Бейли
Russian
베일리
Korean
贝利
Chinese
Μπέιλι
Greek
बेली
Hindi
ביילי
Hebrew
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