BAILEY  

Gender: F
Origin: Occupational name
Meaning: "law enforcer, bailiff"

Popularity in 2008: #82

This jaunty surname was first used for a female TV character in 1978, then caught on big time. Still an appealing choice, though, and a celebrity fave.

Variations:
Bailee, Bayleah, Baillie, Bailie, Bayley, Baylie, Bayleigh, Baily, Baileigh, Baylee, Bayly

Bailey is being discussed in our message boards:

• Alternitives to the top 10 boys and girls names!
• Absurdly Long Baby Name Game=)!!!!!!
• James for a girl?
• Popular names you just don't 'get'.
• Names heard about town in the last week or so

Read Nameberry blog posts about Bailey:

• BOYS' NAMES FOR GIRLS: A Key To Success?
• TOP ENGLISH BOYS' NAMES
• THE SOFTER SIDE OF BOYS' NAMES
• DAD NAMES: NOTEWORTHY NAMES OF SOME FAMOUS FATHERS
• UNISEX NAMES: What's Hot, What's Not