Baillie as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Baillie

What is the meaning of the name Baillie ?

The baby name Baillie is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced BAY-lee (IPA: /ˈbeɪli/).

Baillie is English, Scottish in Origin.

Baillie is a Scottish surname-turned-given name derived from Old French bailli, “bailiff” or “steward,” brought to Britain by the Normans. In Scots usage, a bailie (also spelled baillie) was a municipal magistrate akin to an alderman, reinforcing the term’s association with civic duty and authority. Pronounced BAY-lee, Baillie conveys ideas of guardianship and responsibility.

Used as a first name since the late 19th century and more widely from the late 20th century, it follows the broader fashion for occupational surnames as given names and is unisex, though rarer than the mainstream Bailey. The double‑l spelling signals Scottish heritage and echoes bearers of the surname such as Lady Grizel Baillie. Common variants and related spellings include Bailey, Bailie, Bailee, Baylee, Bayley, and Baily; diminutives such as Bai, Lee, or Billie occasionally appear. Meaning: “bailiff,” “steward,” “law officer.”