Names That Mean Bailiff

Grayson, which you might think of as a Jason-Mason substitute, has been rising through the US Top 1000 since 1984 and has ranked in the Top 100 since 2011.

Bailey — a jaunty surname — was first used for a female TV character in 1978 in the show WKRP in Cincinnaati, then caught on big time. Bailey's still an appealing choice, though, and a celebrity fave. Parents of daughters named Bailey include Scot Baio and Stella McCartney.

Extremely amiable, open-sounding surname that's gradually being taken over by the girls.

Cool and dignified, sophisticated and modern, Reeve might be seen as alternative to long-familiar Reese. A medieval occupational name, a reeve was an English manor officer responsible for overseeing the discharge of feudal obligations; as such, it has been linked to bailiffs and sheriffs.

Sleek and cool, Reeves is the plural form of the Medieval occupation name, once associated with a local official who enforced feudal obligations, whose role may be equated to that of a sheriff or bailiff. In a recent year, Reeves doubled in popularity when it was given to 67 boys (and 13 girls) compared to 33 the year prior. This may be down to its similarity to Reese and Reid, and to Brooks and Banks.

This Bailey variation is the second most popular spelling for girls, and while the -ee ending does make it more feminine, it feels more substantial in the original form. Bailee and Bayley are two other, less common alternatives.

Chosen by aviators Charles and Anne Lindbergh for their daughter, Reeve could work as a distinctive alternative to Reese. While it is currently more popular for boys, nine girls received the name in a recent year, meaning around 20% of all Reeves born in the US were girls.

Spelling this name with a y instead of the conventional way — Bailey — makes it a tad more feminine and also adds a touch of water. Baylee is another popular feminine alternative.

This inventive spelling of Graycen was among the fastest-risers of the year in 2019. It hit a peak in 2020, and dropped for both genders in 2021.

Offers much less than Bay.