Bailey \ba(i)-ley\ as a boy's name (also used as girl's name Bailey), is pronounced BAY-lee. It is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Bailey is "berry clearing; bailiff; city fortification". Place name and transferred use of the surname. Occupational name: in the Middle Ages, a bailiff was a minor official of the law.

Bailey has 11 variant forms: Bail, Bailee, Baileigh, Bailie, Baillee, Baillie, Baily, Baley, Baylee, Bayley and Bayly.

For more information, see also the related name Bay.

Baby names that sound like Bailey are Billy, Paisley, Paley and Bale.