Lee
How to say it: LEE · /ˈliː/
Meadow, clearing; from Old English 'leah' (woodland clearing). Also a Chinese surname used as a given name.
Lee was the 671st most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 366 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to rise to #631 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #671 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 366 |
| Share of births | 1 in 9,058 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | −2% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #631 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long established and once far more common, Lee crested in the 1890s. Far below that height today, it still holds on and should edge up over the next few years.
What goes with it
One short beat with a soft liquid hum, Lee finds a natural companion in Ray.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Lee is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, English, French, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
Ireland: #366.
Famous people named Lee
- Lee Hartwell (born 1939)American biologist
- Lee Marvin (1924–1987)American actor
- Lee Van Cleef (1925–1989)American actor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Lee
Find names you'll both love, starting with Lee
The one-minute style quiz.