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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201939peak #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 1939

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedAKMaine: #92 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 445 boysMEVermont: #84 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 416 boysVTNew Hampshire: #79 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 475 boysNHWashington: #71 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 343 boysWAIdaho: #66 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 256 boysIDMontana: #95 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 451 boysMTNorth Dakota: #64 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 251 boysNDMinnesota: #78 for boys · 59 births · 1 in 383 boysMNIllinois: #74 for boys · 134 births · 1 in 413 boysILWisconsin: #53 for boys · 92 births · 1 in 269 boysWIMichigan: #72 for boys · 112 births · 1 in 389 boysMINew York: #102 for boys · 100 births · 1 in 879 boysNYMassachusetts: #100 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 965 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedRIOregon: #67 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 283 boysORNevada: #37 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 115 boysNVWyoming: #79 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 312 boysWYSouth Dakota: #63 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 272 boysSDIowa: #74 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 375 boysIAIndiana: #98 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 563 boysINOhio: #84 for boys · 101 births · 1 in 510 boysOHPennsylvania: #72 for boys · 175 births · 1 in 422 boysPANew Jersey: #97 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 856 boysNJConnecticut: #66 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 418 boysCTCalifornia: #79 for boys · 123 births · 1 in 389 boysCAUtah: #50 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 189 boysUTColorado: #87 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 393 boysCONebraska: #88 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 437 boysNEMissouri: #83 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 437 boysMOKentucky: #79 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 390 boysKYWest Virginia: #97 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 558 boysWVVirginia: #94 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 472 boysVAMaryland: #87 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 499 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedDEArizona: #78 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 282 boysAZNew Mexico: #75 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 276 boysNMKansas: #126 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 627 boysKSArkansas: #43 for boys · 83 births · 1 in 218 boysARTennessee: #59 for boys · 80 births · 1 in 338 boysTNNorth Carolina: #78 for boys · 87 births · 1 in 416 boysNCSouth Carolina: #77 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 385 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #86 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 521 boysDCOklahoma: #59 for boys · 77 births · 1 in 271 boysOKLouisiana: #49 for boys · 98 births · 1 in 221 boysLAMississippi: #34 for boys · 120 births · 1 in 176 boysMSAlabama: #55 for boys · 96 births · 1 in 291 boysALGeorgia: #84 for boys · 72 births · 1 in 424 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedHITexas: #83 for boys · 150 births · 1 in 392 boysTXFlorida: #95 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 479 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Mississippi#34 · 1 in 176
  2. Nevada#37 · 1 in 115
  3. Arkansas#43 · 1 in 218
  4. Louisiana#49 · 1 in 221
  5. Utah#50 · 1 in 189

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#341201 in 176
Nevada#3751 in 115
Arkansas#43831 in 218
Louisiana#49981 in 221
Utah#50281 in 189
Wisconsin#53921 in 269
Alabama#55961 in 291
Oklahoma#59771 in 271
Tennessee#59801 in 338
South Dakota#63181 in 272
North Dakota#64221 in 251
Connecticut#66251 in 418
Idaho#66181 in 256
Oregon#67261 in 283
Washington#71341 in 343
Michigan#721121 in 389
Pennsylvania#721751 in 422
Illinois#741341 in 413
Iowa#74541 in 375
New Mexico#75201 in 276
South Carolina#77531 in 385
Arizona#78171 in 282
Minnesota#78591 in 383
North Carolina#78871 in 416
California#791231 in 389
Kentucky#79701 in 390
New Hampshire#7971 in 475
Wyoming#7961 in 312
Missouri#83641 in 437
Texas#831501 in 392
Georgia#84721 in 424
Ohio#841011 in 510
Vermont#8461 in 416
District of Columbia#86111 in 521
Colorado#87241 in 393
Maryland#87251 in 499
Nebraska#88231 in 437
Maine#92141 in 445
Virginia#94491 in 472
Florida#95301 in 479
Montana#95101 in 451
New Jersey#97301 in 856
West Virginia#97341 in 558
Indiana#98471 in 563
Massachusetts#100301 in 965
New York#1021001 in 879
Kansas#126211 in 627
Alaska———
Delaware———
Hawaii———
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 1939

girls
#286
477 births · 1 in 2,299 girls
boys
#78
2,589 births · 1 in 428 boys

Top girls' names in 1939

  1. #1Mary54,900
  2. #2Barbara37,257
  3. #3Patricia29,701
  4. #4Betty23,639
  5. #5Shirley20,447
  6. #6Carol20,166
  7. #7Nancy19,723
  8. #8Judith16,625
  9. #9Dorothy15,169
  10. #10Margaret14,949
  11. #286Lee477

Top boys' names in 1939

  1. #1Robert59,666
  2. #2James59,636
  3. #3John51,025
  4. #4William42,071
  5. #5Richard35,386
  6. #6Charles30,789
  7. #7David25,360
  8. #8Donald24,056
  9. #9Thomas22,129
  10. #10Ronald19,837
  11. #78Lee2,589
More about 1939

girls

1,096,612 girls got a published name in 1939; 1 in 2,299 of them was named Lee, which outranked 94.2% of the 4,950 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Lee
  1. #283Frankie483
  2. #284Lila482
  3. #285Rosetta479
  4. #286Lee477
  5. #287Lorene473
  6. #288Dawn468
  7. #289Ina466
Biggest movers since 1938
Risers
  1. ↑ 880April#1,805 → #925
  2. ↑ 865Karel#1,703 → #838
  3. ↑ 725Hedy#1,650 → #925
  4. ↑ 722Vivien#1,703 → #981
  5. ↑ 709Karon#1,547 → #838
Fallers
  1. ↓ 712Eulalia#972 → #1,684
  2. ↓ 446Shelvia#955 → #1,401
  3. ↓ 358Naoma#992 → #1,350
  4. ↓ 304Imelda#890 → #1,194
  5. ↓ 279Helaine#870 → #1,149

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

boys

1,106,852 boys got a published name in 1939; 1 in 428 of them was named Lee, which outranked 98.0% of the 3,968 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Lee
  1. #75Jim2,636
  2. #76Bernard2,624
  3. #77Tommy2,622
  4. #78Lee2,589
  5. #79Patrick2,530
  6. #80Jimmie2,524
  7. #81Eddie2,511
Biggest movers since 1938
Risers
  1. ↑ 463Alfonzo#1,439 → #976
  2. ↑ 447Rod#1,439 → #992
  3. ↑ 443Estel#1,397 → #954
  4. ↑ 422Cameron#1,364 → #942
  5. ↑ 421Turner#1,337 → #916
Fallers
  1. ↓ 518Gonzalo#779 → #1,297
  2. ↓ 497Judge#992 → #1,489
  3. ↓ 396Melville#963 → #1,359
  4. ↓ 355Agustin#883 → #1,238
  5. ↓ 351Antone#921 → #1,272

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

See the top 100 for 1939 →