Lee Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Lee is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Lee?
Lee is spelled L-E-E. The name has 3 letters.
Lee at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Lee is derived from an Old English word meaning “clearing” or “meadow.”
- Origin
- The surname and given name Lee originate from Old English place-names referring to a meadow or clearing in a forest.
- Pronunciation
- LEE · 1 syllable
Lee Popularity in 2025
Rank#5,722
Recorded Births21
Rank#725
Recorded Births366
- Girls usage fell 574 places to #5,722 and recorded 4 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 9 places to #725 and recorded 4 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Lee Mean?
Lee is derived from an Old English word meaning “clearing” or “meadow.”
Origin: The surname and given name Lee originate from Old English place-names referring to a meadow or clearing in a forest.
How Do You Pronounce Lee?
PronunciationLEE
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Lee?
- History
- Lee has been used as both a surname and given name in English-speaking countries for many centuries, often associated with geographic features.
Lee Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 21 | #5,722 |
| 2025 | Boys | 366 | #725 |
| 2024 | Girls | 25 | #5,148 |
| 2024 | Boys | 370 | #716 |
| 2023 | Girls | 24 | #5,248 |
| 2023 | Boys | 377 | #705 |
| 2022 | Girls | 26 | #5,028 |
| 2022 | Boys | 379 | #698 |
| 2021 | Girls | 15 | #7,250 |
| 2021 | Boys | 378 | #700 |
| 2020 | Girls | 28 | #4,648 |
| 2020 | Boys | 313 | #768 |
| 2019 | Girls | 20 | #5,986 |
| 2019 | Boys | 297 | #783 |
| 2018 | Girls | 26 | #5,007 |
| 2018 | Boys | 352 | #689 |
| 2017 | Girls | 21 | #5,821 |
| 2017 | Boys | 369 | #681 |
| 2016 | Girls | 33 | #4,345 |
| 2016 | Boys | 390 | #664 |
| 2015 | Girls | 24 | #5,458 |
| 2015 | Boys | 375 | #677 |
| 2014 | Girls | 23 | #5,625 |
| 2014 | Boys | 350 | #703 |
When Was Lee Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1951 · Boys
3,682 recorded births
National rank #92
1947 · Boys
3,676 recorded births
National rank #92
1952 · Boys
3,655 recorded births
National rank #92
1950 · Boys
3,611 recorded births
National rank #91
Where Lee Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| IA | #276 | 14 |
| PA | #397 | 26 |
| NE | #432 | 5 |
| AR | #444 | 7 |
| IN | #452 | 15 |
| KS | #468 | 7 |
| WI | #484 | 10 |
| KY | #526 | 8 |