Baily is an uncommon given name of English origin. It is derived from the medieval English surname Bailey, which was originally an occupational name for a steward or a varlet, who were servants in a household responsible for carrying messages and performing other duties.
The name Baily has been used as a given name since the mid-20th century, likely influenced by the popularity of other names with similar sounds such as Bailey, which has been used as both a surname and a given name for centuries. There is also some evidence that the name may have been inspired by astronomical terms related to the study of stars and galaxies, such as baily's beads, which are a series of small, bright points of light seen during a solar eclipse.
Despite its origins in medieval England, Baily has not been widely used as a given name until recent times. According to data from the Social Security Administration, there have only been around 50 baby boys named Baily born in the United States each year since the name first appeared on record in 1983.
Today, Baily remains a rare and unique name, perhaps appealing to parents looking for an uncommon but meaningful name for their child. Its association with stars and astronomy may also make it particularly appealing to those interested in science or space exploration. Overall, while not widely used, the name Baily has a rich history and interesting origins that set it apart from other names.
The name Baily has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past two decades in the United States. The name first made an appearance in 1994 with only five newborns sharing this unique moniker. However, its popularity seemed to grow rapidly as it jumped to twenty-one births in just one year later, in 1995.
The year 1996 marked a significant spike in the usage of the name Baily, with forty-five babies being named so. This was followed by two consecutive years where the number of newborns given this name hovered around fifty, reaching fifty-five in 1997 and fifty-three in 1998.
However, from 1999 onwards, the popularity of the name Baily started to decline steadily. There were fifty-eight babies named Baily that year, but by 2000, this number had dropped to fifty-three. This downward trend continued over the next few years, with thirty-five births in 2001 and thirty-one in 2002.
By 2003, the usage of the name Baily had decreased significantly, with only eleven newborns being named so that year. The following two years saw a slight recovery, with seventeen births in 2004 and nine in 2005. However, this was not enough to reverse the overall decline in popularity.
From 2006 onwards, the name Baily became even more uncommon, with only eleven babies named so that year, followed by six in 2007 and seven in 2008. Despite this decline, it's important to note that these statistics represent a total of four hundred seventeen newborns given the name Baily over these fifteen years, indicating that while its popularity has varied, the name remains present in the United States' naming landscape.
In conclusion, while the name Baily experienced periods of increased usage during the late 1990s and early 2000s, it ultimately saw a decline in popularity over the fifteen-year span from 1994 to 2008. Despite this, it remains a name with a unique identity and a notable presence among American newborns.