Lee
Meaning & Origin
Meaning: Meadow; Plum
Background: The name Lee originates from the Old English word 'leah,' meaning 'meadow' or 'clearing.' In Chinese contexts, it can also represent the surname 李, pronounced 'Li,' which means 'plum.' This reflects two distinct linguistic roots contributing to the name.
At a glance
Quick stats based on the history of this name.
Lifetime rank
#166
Total births
295,534
Most popular decade
1950s
(149,061 births)
10-year trend
↓ Falling (-11 ranks)
Years in Top 100
76
First recorded year
1880
Gender usage
78.9% male
21.1% female
Stats by gender
Male
- First year
- 1880
- First year births
- 361
- First year rank
- #43
- Peak year
- 1951
- Peak year births
- 3,682
- Peak rank
- #92
- Most recent year
- 2024
- Recent year births
- 370
- Recent rank
- #714
Female
- First year
- 1880
- First year births
- 28
- First year rank
- #294
- Peak year
- 1956
- Peak year births
- 1,937
- Peak rank
- #184
- Most recent year
- 2024
- Recent year births
- 25
- Recent rank
- #5,133
Births over time
Number of babies given this name each year.
Rank over time
Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).