Bailey
Boy name · #1358 in 2025 · Rare
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: SSA.
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
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: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.