Baillie

Meaning & origin

Baillie is an alternate spelling of the more common Bailey, which saw a rise in popularity for girls in the late 20th century. The name first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1989, and its peak year was 1991, though it has never entered the top 1000 names. Since then, usage has declined sharply, and it remains a rare choice, with fewer than 5 births per year in recent decades. The spelling "Baillie" likely appeals to parents seeking a distinctive variation of a familiar surname style. The name has no strong ties to any particular region, as top states were not recorded for this name due to low frequency.

Baillie is likely a modern respelling of Bailey, which derives from the Old French word "baillif" (bailiff) or from the English surname Bailey, itself from a place name meaning "berry clearing." As a given name, it emerged in the late 20th century, particularly in the United States, where creative spellings of surnames became popular for girls.