Bailey
Boy name · #1358 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Bailey? In official American birth records, Bailey has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Bailey is currently the #1358 boy name in the United States — 138 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1491, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,043 boys born in 2025 was named Bailey.
Babies named Bailey per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Bailey first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 12 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1997, when 2,296 boys were named Bailey — good for #151 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Bailey against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Bailey in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Bailey is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Bailey will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Bailey is most common
State-level data for Bailey is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Bailey
Statistically, parents drawn to Bailey tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Harley, Trevon, Brendan, Trey, and Zackary.
HarleyTrevonBrendanTreyZackaryDuncanRyleyTariq
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Bailey | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 138 | #1358 |
| 2024 | 155 | #1271 |
| 2023 | 151 | #1271 |
| 2022 | 119 | #1516 |
| 2021 | 119 | #1496 |
| 2020 | 93 | #1685 |
| 2019 | 120 | #1450 |
| 2018 | 128 | #1375 |
| 2017 | 144 | #1264 |
| 2016 | 110 | #1522 |
| 2015 | 111 | #1491 |
| 2014 | 135 | #1306 |
| 2013 | 124 | #1361 |
| 2012 | 121 | #1383 |
| 2011 | 168 | #1101 |
| 2010 | 196 | #997 |
| 2009 | 219 | #938 |
| 2008 | 277 | #791 |
| 2007 | 355 | #673 |
| 2006 | 366 | #637 |
| 2005 | 477 | #515 |
| 2004 | 599 | #433 |
| 2003 | 759 | #357 |
| 2002 | 851 | #325 |
| 2001 | 1,234 | #266 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Bailey?
In official American birth records, the name Bailey first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 12 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Bailey a popular boy name?
Bailey ranked #1358 among boys in 2025 with 138 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1491.
When was the name Bailey most popular?
Bailey peaked in 1997, when 2,296 American boys received the name (ranked #151 that year). Since 1997 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Bailey?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,043 newborn American boys was named Bailey. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.