UK name, mostly girls
Bayleigh
A feminine name derived from Old English words meaning "meadow" and "woodland clearing".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 86 boys.
Bayleigh is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Bayleigh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 26 births.
This profile covers 360 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 12% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 358 living people in the UK are called Bayleigh. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bayleigh ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 26 girls were registered as Bayleigh.
- • Bayleigh is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 358 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bayleigh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 80.7% of Bayleigh registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2002
26 births
Estimated living
358
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Bayleigh
In England and Wales birth records, Bayleigh has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 19.3% of registrations are for boys and 80.7% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Bayleigh registered for boys
- Ranked #4,632 in 2014
- 3 boys registered in 2014
- Peak: 2004 (14 births)
Bayleigh registered for girls
- Ranked #5,891 in 2024
- 3 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2002 (26 births)
Meaning
What does Bayleigh mean?
The name Bayleigh is an English name that originated in the late 20th century. It is a combination of the names Bailey and Leigh, both of which have their roots in Old English.
Bailey is derived from the Old English word "bæli," which means "berry clearing" or "berry meadow." It was originally a surname that referred to someone who lived near a berry patch or a meadow where berries grew. The name Leigh, on the other hand, comes from the Old English word "leah," which means "clearing" or "meadow."
While the name Bayleigh is relatively new, its components have a long history. The name Bailey can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name Leigh also appears in various historical records, including the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which dates back to the 9th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bayleigh is in the late 20th century, when it began to gain popularity as a given name for girls in the United States and other English-speaking countries. However, there are no notable historical figures specifically named Bayleigh, as it is a relatively modern name.
Nevertheless, there are several famous individuals who have borne the names Bailey and Leigh throughout history. One notable example is Bailey Tzuren (born in 1987), an American actress known for her roles in various television shows and movies. Another is Bailey White (born in 1951), an American writer and author of several books, including "Mama Makes Up Her Mind" and "Quite a Year for Plums."
As for the name Leigh, one prominent figure is Leigh Hunt (1784-1859), an English essayist, poet, and critic who was a key figure in the Romantic movement. Another is Leigh Brackett (1915-1978), an American writer and screenwriter who contributed to several science fiction classics, including "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Big Sleep."
Additionally, there is Leigh Ann Woodworth (born in 1948), an American actress best known for her role as Janice in the sitcom "Alice." Lastly, Leigh Whannell (born in 1977) is an Australian actor, writer, and director who co-created the "Saw" franchise and directed films such as "Insidious" and "The Invisible Man."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bayleigh over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Bayleigh in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bayleigh, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 26 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bayleigh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bayleigh was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4093 | 31 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2641 | 108 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1412 | 176 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1628 | 45 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Bayleigh
- Bethany 43,226
- Brooke 18,370
- Bella 14,112
- Bonnie 12,149
- Beatrice 11,306
- Bethan 7,968
- Beth 6,440
- Betsy 5,065
- Beatrix 4,317
- Billie 4,220
- Beau 3,231
- Bryony 3,167
FAQ
Bayleigh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bayleigh in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bayleigh was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bayleigh most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 26 babies registered as Bayleigh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bayleigh?
A feminine name derived from Old English words meaning "meadow" and "woodland clearing".
How many people are called Bayleigh in the UK?
A total of 360 babies have been registered as Bayleigh across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.