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At a Glance: Name: Bailey – Meaning: surname-turned-given-name from 'bailey,' the outer wall or courtyard of a castle – Origin: English (surname) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: BAY-lee
Bailey started out as an English surname before parents began giving it as a first name outright — it comes from ‘bailey,’ the outer wall or courtyard of a castle, and works just as well for a boy or a girl. You may have heard it explained as meaning ‘bailiff’ or ‘steward,’ but that claim doesn't hold up, so it's best treated as unconfirmed. Said BAY-lee (IPA /ˈbeɪli/), it has a clean, present-day sound that still feels familiar.
Meaning & Origin of Bailey
Meaning: Surname-turned-given-name from 'bailey,' the outer wall or courtyard of a castle.
Origin: English (surname).
A common claim: Bailey is often said to mean 'bailiff' or 'steward.' Actually: Bailey more likely comes from 'bailey,' the outer wall or courtyard of a castle, rather than meaning 'bailiff' or 'steward.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Bailey
Phonetic: BAY-lee IPA: /ˈbeɪli/
Popularity of Bailey
Bailey has been tracked in U.S. Social Security data since 1880, and it hit its highest point at #60 in 1998, when 5,199 babies were given the name. By 2024 it ranked #182, with 1,644 babies named Bailey.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Bailey Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Bailey, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Bailey mean?
Surname-turned-given-name from ‘bailey,’ the outer wall or courtyard of a castle. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bailey)
How do you pronounce Bailey?
Bailey is pronounced BAY-lee (IPA: /ˈbeɪli/).
Is Bailey a popular name right now?
Bailey peaked at #60 in 1998 and is ranked #182 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Bailey? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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