Bailey
Say it: BAY-lee/ˈbeɪli/
Girl and boyMeans bailiff, or someone who lived by a castle bailey6 letters2 syllables
#608
in Ireland (2025)
#590 with spellings combined
5
babies in 2025
#296
best rank (2019)
145
babies since 2008
Down 54
10-year rank change
Bailey through the years
Compare with another name →girlsboys
Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #590 | - | - |
| 2024 | 4 | #714 | - | - |
| 2023 | 10 | #358 | 6 | #497 |
| 2022 | 13 | #317 | 5 | #552 |
| 2021 | 7 | #510 | 5 | #530 |
| 2020 | 7 | #485 | 5 | #528 |
| 2019 | 15 | #296 | 6 | #485 |
| 2018 | 6 | #556 | 7 | #446 |
| 2017 | 9 | #432 | 7 | #443 |
| 2016 | 12 | #360 | 3 | #713 |
| 2015 | 7 | #536 | 8 | #422 |
| 2014 | 13 | #353 | 16 | #286 |
| 2013 | 9 | #464 | 13 | #317 |
| 2012 | 7 | #562 | 10 | #379 |
| 2011 | 7 | #554 | 6 | #490 |
| 2010 | 4 | #758 | 10 | #373 |
| 2009 | 4 | #742 | 6 | #472 |
| 2008 | 6 | #599 | 10 | #368 |
| 2007 | - | - | 15 | #253 |
| 2006 | - | - | 16 | #232 |
| 2005 | - | - | 13 | #239 |
| 2004 | - | - | 6 | #352 |
| 2000 | - | - | 4 | #347 |
| 1999 | - | - | 6 | #266 |
| 1998 | - | - | 3 | #369 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Bailey mean?
Bailiff, or someone who lived by a castle bailey
English surname, mostly from Anglo-Norman bailli (bailiff).
Say it right
BAYlee
The story of Bailey
Bailey began as a surname. The most likely source is bailli, the Anglo-Norman word for a bailiff or steward, so the first Baileys were probably named for their job. Some families may instead have taken it from a castle’s bailey, the yard inside its outer wall. In Ireland the surname was also used as an English form of the Irish Báille.
As a first name Bailey was first given to boys, and later to girls as well, especially in America.
In Ireland it reached the boys’ list in 1998 and had its best year in 2006, with 16 boys. Girls followed in 2008, and 15 girls were named Bailey in 2019. Since then it has leaned towards girls: no year after 2023 shows 3 or more boys. It has been more popular with boys in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 83 in 2002.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Bailey (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Bailey (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Bailey | 5 | 145 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #273 (2004); 32 babies since 1998.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Bailey is also given to boys: 186 since 1998.