Bailey
Boy name · #1358 in 2025 · Uniqueness 52/100
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, 1880–2025. 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?
Bailey scores 52 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Bailey is most common
Geography matters for names, and Bailey is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Baileys were CA (9), FL (8), GA (7), NC (7), IA (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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. It scores 52/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.