Lee

#5,722 for girls in 2025, 21 births · #725 for boys in 2025, 366 births
Given to boys 78.9% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1900 · 675 births
Debut · boys
361 births
In top 100 · boys
76 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
233,627
since 1880

Lee over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201938peak #183, 1955peak #39, 1900girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#5,72221#725366
2024#5,14825#716370
2023#5,24824#705377
2022#5,02826#698379
2021#7,25015#700378
2020#4,64828#768313
2019#5,98620#783297
2018#5,00726#689352
2017#5,82121#681369
2016#4,34533#664390
2015#5,45824#677375
2014#5,62523#703350
2013#4,75529#668361
2012#5,89522#662357
2011#6,33520#669353
2010#4,60831#676353
2009#4,93129#658374
2008#7,40817#670361
2007#6,09322#635382
2006#4,81129#610391
2005#5,60022#589384
2004#3,44443#557412
2003#3,34743#556403
2002#3,28342#516439
2001#2,66356#464513
2000#2,30667#469502
1999#1,94081#449510
1998#1,78987#403607
1997#1,98372#388615
1996#1,62594#343721
1995#1,522102#330774
1994#1,341125#297917
1993#1,126159#284989
1992#1,131156#2551,128
1991#1,106162#2291,300
1990#955197#2131,450
1989#816232#1881,545
1988#707269#1561,785
1987#744243#1541,811
1986#646286#1451,932
1985#610310#1422,005
1984#533360#1242,164
1983#513373#1381,917
1982#444485#1232,205
1981#414532#1232,215
1980#364652#1252,209
1979#363622#1292,078
1978#413490#1331,980
1977#377561#1332,014
1976#386532#1381,873
1975#360585#1371,858
1974#356608#1242,115
1973#336658#1232,106
1972#332691#1252,260
1971#308873#1282,472
1970#298970#1182,790
1969#2571,134#1182,762
1968#2391,160#1062,868
1967#2481,140#1032,960
1966#2411,211#1062,965
1965#2371,300#1162,772
1964#2481,272#1173,037
1963#2251,479#1193,016
1962#2331,380#1153,263
1961#2221,493#1223,127
1960#2181,531#1163,430
1959#2131,549#1153,509
1958#2001,696#1143,514
1957#1921,834#1053,588
1956#1841,937#1043,511
1955#1831,816#963,607
1954#2161,357#963,566
1953#2551,015#933,583
1952#256948#923,655
1951#259891#923,682
1950#268818#913,611
1949#270818#933,562
1948#264842#933,445
1947#254857#923,676
1946#248807#913,346
1945#257687#872,942
1944#280600#852,929
1943#284597#912,789
1942#282583#872,923
1941#283520#812,742
1940#283492#802,624
1939#286477#782,589
1938#296450#802,575
1937#297438#782,499
1936#292439#762,418
1935#280474#802,426
1934#306422#792,378
1933#310403#792,301
1932#293457#852,284
1931#302446#902,123
1930#308465#822,361
1929#308474#852,209
1928#291513#872,282
1927#302490#862,390
1926#285542#852,313
1925#292531#822,537
1924#303488#832,420
1923#289494#852,359
1922#291496#832,371
1921#303459#862,354
1920#281543#822,321
1919#289484#822,189
1918#281507#862,159
1917#281479#852,004
1916#275475#832,016
1915#279445#841,916
1914#254405#841,451
1913#272294#781,228
1912#253312#781,030
1911#244258#67646
1910#256224#49741
1909#256196#52584
1908#246197#51553
1907#244192#54516
1906#270150#57436
1905#251165#49486
1904#267139#45532
1903#297110#45477
1902#269134#46475
1901#30595#45424
1900#277138#39675
1899#30494#50388
1898#291111#46498
1897#29097#47453
1896#34073#48455
1895#28298#47478
1894#30183#45455
1893#33266#46445
1892#32668#46460
1891#30268#52342
1890#33258#43410
1889#27177#46415
1888#30561#48430
1887#27360#44400
1886#35237#47399
1885#29446#50348
1884#27748#43435
1883#24155#43388
1882#26543#41427
1881#25739#44342
1880#29428#43361
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Lee was already there! It came in at #43, and was given to 361 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 2002–2025, when fewer than 440 boys a year got the name.

Where Lee is popular in 1938

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedAKMaine: #100 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 518 boysMEVermont: #67 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 309 boysVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedNHWashington: #67 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 310 boysWAIdaho: #46 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 182 boysIDMontana: #84 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 364 boysMTNorth Dakota: #83 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 331 boysNDMinnesota: #85 for boys · 56 births · 1 in 401 boysMNIllinois: #89 for boys · 108 births · 1 in 528 boysILWisconsin: #56 for boys · 89 births · 1 in 279 boysWIMichigan: #79 for boys · 100 births · 1 in 443 boysMINew York: #109 for boys · 102 births · 1 in 865 boysNYMassachusetts: #106 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,065 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedRIOregon: #70 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 293 boysORNevada: #37 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 115 boysNVWyoming: #61 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 227 boysWYSouth Dakota: #108 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 487 boysSDIowa: #79 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 393 boysIAIndiana: #102 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 587 boysINOhio: #83 for boys · 105 births · 1 in 502 boysOHPennsylvania: #73 for boys · 171 births · 1 in 446 boysPANew Jersey: #90 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 689 boysNJConnecticut: #98 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 803 boysCTCalifornia: #85 for boys · 115 births · 1 in 410 boysCAUtah: #36 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 142 boysUTColorado: #84 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 359 boysCONebraska: #89 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 400 boysNEMissouri: #85 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 434 boysMOKentucky: #99 for boys · 55 births · 1 in 509 boysKYWest Virginia: #118 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 661 boysWVVirginia: #97 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 506 boysVAMaryland: #83 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 445 boysMDDelaware: #61 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 278 boysDEArizona: #50 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 188 boysAZNew Mexico: #97 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 378 boysNMKansas: #82 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 368 boysKSArkansas: #35 for boys · 96 births · 1 in 190 boysARTennessee: #73 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 406 boysTNNorth Carolina: #92 for boys · 75 births · 1 in 476 boysNCSouth Carolina: #72 for boys · 57 births · 1 in 340 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #123 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 755 boysDCOklahoma: #68 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 306 boysOKLouisiana: #78 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 310 boysLAMississippi: #26 for boys · 151 births · 1 in 142 boysMSAlabama: #51 for boys · 105 births · 1 in 262 boysALGeorgia: #87 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 423 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedHITexas: #63 for boys · 184 births · 1 in 322 boysTXFlorida: #64 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 294 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Mississippi#26 · 1 in 142
  2. Arkansas#35 · 1 in 190
  3. Utah#36 · 1 in 142
  4. Nevada#37 · 1 in 115
  5. Idaho#46 · 1 in 182

Best ever in a state: #14 in Nevada, 1931.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#261511 in 142
Arkansas#35961 in 190
Utah#36371 in 142
Nevada#3751 in 115
Idaho#46251 in 182
Arizona#50261 in 188
Alabama#511051 in 262
Wisconsin#56891 in 279
Delaware#6161 in 278
Wyoming#6181 in 227
Texas#631841 in 322
Florida#64471 in 294
Vermont#6781 in 309
Washington#67381 in 310
Oklahoma#68691 in 306
Oregon#70241 in 293
South Carolina#72571 in 340
Pennsylvania#731711 in 446
Tennessee#73661 in 406
Louisiana#78691 in 310
Iowa#79511 in 393
Michigan#791001 in 443
Kansas#82361 in 368
Maryland#83281 in 445
North Dakota#83161 in 331
Ohio#831051 in 502
Colorado#84261 in 359
Montana#84121 in 364
California#851151 in 410
Minnesota#85561 in 401
Missouri#85641 in 434
Georgia#87701 in 423
Illinois#891081 in 528
Nebraska#89251 in 400
New Jersey#90371 in 689
North Carolina#92751 in 476
New Mexico#97151 in 378
Virginia#97461 in 506
Connecticut#98131 in 803
Kentucky#99551 in 509
Maine#100121 in 518
Indiana#102461 in 587
Massachusetts#106271 in 1,065
South Dakota#108101 in 487
New York#1091021 in 865
West Virginia#118291 in 661
District of Columbia#12371 in 755
Alaska———
Hawaii———
New Hampshire———
Rhode Island———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Lee
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 9 spots since 2024 (#716 → #725)
  • 43 spots since 2020 (#768 → #725)
  • 48 spots since 2015 (#677 → #725)
  • Biggest jump: 68 spots in 2021 (#768 → #700)
  • Biggest drop: 94 spots in 2019 (#689 → #783)
Rise & fade · boys
20 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1900 at #39 (675 births)
  • Births halved by 2019, 119 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 76 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 76 yrs · run 1880–1955
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 223
  • Highest: 1 in 223 boys born in 1900 were named Lee (0.45%)
  • Latest: 1 in 4,667 boys born in 2025 (0.02%)
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 15.3% of all boys named Lee (35,826) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Never flipped
  • The majority has never changed
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s3,945#41 (1882)#45
1890s4,384#43 (1890)#47
1900s5,158#39 (1900)#48
1910s15,380#49 (1910)#78
1920s23,556#82 (1925)#84
1930s23,954#76 (1936)#81
1940s30,978#80 (1940)#88
1950s35,826#91 (1950)#100
1960s30,200#103 (1967)#114
1970s21,546#118 (1970)#129
1980s19,788#123 (1981)#142
1990s9,011#213 (1990)#319
2000s4,161#464 (2001)#572
2010s3,557#662 (2012)#687
2020s2,183#698 (2022)#719

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Lee in 1938

girls
#296
450 births · 1 in 2,452 girls
boys
#80
2,575 births · 1 in 431 boys

Top girls' names in 1938

  1. #1Mary56,225
  2. #2Barbara39,277
  3. #3Patricia27,560
  4. #4Betty25,506
  5. #5Shirley23,766
  6. #6Carol19,421
  7. #7Nancy18,951
  8. #8Dorothy16,358
  9. #9Margaret15,330
  10. #10Joan14,303
  11. #296Lee450

Top boys' names in 1938

  1. #1Robert62,271
  2. #2James59,102
  3. #3John50,517
  4. #4William42,433
  5. #5Richard34,385
  6. #6Charles31,151
  7. #7Donald26,677
  8. #8David22,994
  9. #9Thomas21,381
  10. #10Ronald20,295
  11. #80Lee2,575
More about 1938

girls

1,103,456 girls got a published name in 1938; 1 in 2,452 of them was named Lee, which outranked 94.1% of the 4,995 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Lee
  1. #293Estelle455
  2. #294Essie451
  3. #294Ollie451
  4. #296Lee450
  5. #297Imogene447
  6. #298Gracie445
  7. #298Olivia445
Biggest movers since 1937
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,209Danielle#2,940 → #731
  2. ↑ 833Lorelei#1,451 → #618
  3. ↑ 623Helaine#1,493 → #870
  4. ↑ 399Janine#1,330 → #931
  5. ↑ 392Imelda#1,282 → #890
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,261Noreta#964 → #2,225
  2. ↓ 513Norita#532 → #1,045
  3. ↓ 432Noretta#856 → #1,288
  4. ↓ 366Ferne#950 → #1,316
  5. ↓ 327Verdell#904 → #1,231

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,109,147 boys got a published name in 1938; 1 in 431 of them was named Lee, which outranked 98.0% of the 4,035 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Lee
  1. #77Tommy2,667
  2. #78Gordon2,657
  3. #79Eddie2,616
  4. #80Lee2,575
  5. #81Jim2,497
  6. #82Andrew2,411
  7. #83Glenn2,367
Biggest movers since 1937
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,314Dion#2,197 → #883
  2. ↑ 448Tex#1,212 → #764
  3. ↑ 425Lonny#1,233 → #808
  4. ↑ 401Gonzalo#1,180 → #779
  5. ↑ 383Lance#722 → #339
Fallers
  1. ↓ 741Worth#1,000 → #1,741
  2. ↓ 528Estel#869 → #1,397
  3. ↓ 492Milburn#845 → #1,337
  4. ↓ 412Lonzo#835 → #1,247
  5. ↓ 405Joy#932 → #1,337

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1938 →