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
#39
1900 · 675 births
Debut · boys
1880
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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201986peak #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 1986

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #111 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 529 boysAKMaine: #114 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 725 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedNHWashington: #194 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,491 boysWAIdaho: #134 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 756 boysIDMontana: #130 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 653 boysMTNorth Dakota: #70 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 271 boysNDMinnesota: #90 for boys · 59 births · 1 in 521 boysMNIllinois: #182 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 1,174 boysILWisconsin: #91 for boys · 57 births · 1 in 582 boysWIMichigan: #105 for boys · 89 births · 1 in 717 boysMINew York: #150 for boys · 116 births · 1 in 1,053 boysNYMassachusetts: #146 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 1,308 boysMARhode Island: #91 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 598 boysRIOregon: #121 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 719 boysORNevada: #187 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,277 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #75 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 319 boysSDIowa: #104 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 604 boysIAIndiana: #126 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 880 boysINOhio: #109 for boys · 97 births · 1 in 778 boysOHPennsylvania: #103 for boys · 104 births · 1 in 742 boysPANew Jersey: #127 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 971 boysNJConnecticut: #135 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,069 boysCTCalifornia: #217 for boys · 165 births · 1 in 1,384 boysCAUtah: #144 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 869 boysUTColorado: #136 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 787 boysCONebraska: #93 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 506 boysNEMissouri: #145 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 1,028 boysMOKentucky: #160 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,259 boysKYWest Virginia: #117 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 741 boysWVVirginia: #163 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 1,182 boysVAMaryland: #132 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 913 boysMDDelaware: #126 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 794 boysDEArizona: #183 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,008 boysAZNew Mexico: #165 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 811 boysNMKansas: #139 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 785 boysKSArkansas: #107 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 590 boysARTennessee: #152 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 1,010 boysTNNorth Carolina: #117 for boys · 57 births · 1 in 717 boysNCSouth Carolina: #135 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 727 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #165 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 833 boysDCOklahoma: #144 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 833 boysOKLouisiana: #130 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 631 boysLAMississippi: #105 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 474 boysMSAlabama: #146 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 815 boysALGeorgia: #169 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 1,052 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Lee, so not publishedHITexas: #176 for boys · 165 births · 1 in 887 boysTXFlorida: #140 for boys · 89 births · 1 in 859 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. North Dakota#70 · 1 in 271
  2. South Dakota#75 · 1 in 319
  3. Minnesota#90 · 1 in 521
  4. Wisconsin#91 · 1 in 582
  5. Rhode Island#91 · 1 in 598

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
North Dakota#70191 in 271
South Dakota#75151 in 319
Minnesota#90591 in 521
Rhode Island#91101 in 598
Wisconsin#91571 in 582
Nebraska#93221 in 506
Pennsylvania#1031041 in 742
Iowa#104301 in 604
Michigan#105891 in 717
Mississippi#105361 in 474
Arkansas#107251 in 590
Ohio#109971 in 778
Alaska#11191 in 529
Maine#114101 in 725
North Carolina#117571 in 717
West Virginia#117151 in 741
Oregon#121251 in 719
Delaware#12651 in 794
Indiana#126421 in 880
New Jersey#127491 in 971
Louisiana#130541 in 631
Montana#13081 in 653
Maryland#132311 in 913
Idaho#13491 in 756
Connecticut#135191 in 1,069
South Carolina#135291 in 727
Colorado#136321 in 787
Kansas#139221 in 785
Florida#140891 in 859
Oklahoma#144271 in 833
Utah#144191 in 869
Missouri#145351 in 1,028
Alabama#146311 in 815
Massachusetts#146301 in 1,308
New York#1501161 in 1,053
Tennessee#152311 in 1,010
Kentucky#160191 in 1,259
Virginia#163321 in 1,182
District of Columbia#16591 in 833
New Mexico#165141 in 811
Georgia#169421 in 1,052
Texas#1761651 in 887
Illinois#182681 in 1,174
Arizona#183271 in 1,008
Nevada#18751 in 1,277
Washington#194211 in 1,491
California#2171651 in 1,384
Hawaii———
New Hampshire———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

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 1986

girls
#646
286 births · 1 in 5,998 girls
boys
#145
1,932 births · 1 in 953 boys

Top girls' names in 1986

  1. #1Jessica52,682
  2. #2Ashley49,671
  3. #3Amanda40,532
  4. #4Jennifer36,187
  5. #5Sarah28,163
  6. #6Stephanie22,651
  7. #7Nicole21,292
  8. #8Brittany20,313
  9. #9Heather19,790
  10. #10Elizabeth19,074
  11. #646Lee286

Top boys' names in 1986

  1. #1Michael64,235
  2. #2Christopher56,693
  3. #3Matthew46,929
  4. #4Joshua37,542
  5. #5David37,150
  6. #6Daniel36,573
  7. #7James34,057
  8. #8Andrew33,858
  9. #9Robert31,350
  10. #10John30,209
  11. #145Lee1,932
More about 1986

girls

1,715,547 girls got a published name in 1986; 1 in 5,998 of them was named Lee, which outranked 95.0% of the 12,836 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Lee
  1. #643Alycia287
  2. #643Dina287
  3. #643Lashonda287
  4. #646Lee286
  5. #647Joan284
  6. #647Joelle284
  7. #647Roberta284
Biggest movers since 1985
Risers
  1. ↑ 9,719Kyrie#10,677 → #958
  2. ↑ 4,778Sable#5,678 → #900
  3. ↑ 2,034Eliana#2,484 → #450
  4. ↑ 1,497Shatara#2,484 → #987
  5. ↑ 1,374Cherrelle#2,253 → #879
Fallers
  1. ↓ 442Violeta#963 → #1,405
  2. ↓ 361Micaela#545 → #906
  3. ↓ 361Tasia#572 → #933
  4. ↓ 324Jo#925 → #1,249
  5. ↓ 306Tammie#987 → #1,293

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

boys

1,841,515 boys got a published name in 1986; 1 in 953 of them was named Lee, which outranked 98.1% of the 7,830 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Lee
  1. #142Chase1,966
  2. #143Manuel1,961
  3. #144Ricky1,958
  4. #145Lee1,932
  5. #146Francisco1,917
  6. #147Danny1,913
  7. #148Randall1,889
Biggest movers since 1985
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,279Spenser#2,226 → #947
  2. ↑ 920Jayce#1,614 → #694
  3. ↑ 714Addison#1,228 → #514
  4. ↑ 649Payton#1,614 → #965
  5. ↑ 573Cordell#1,181 → #608
Fallers
  1. ↓ 409Ulises#877 → #1,286
  2. ↓ 365Eliot#934 → #1,299
  3. ↓ 322Jordy#998 → #1,320
  4. ↓ 313Trace#956 → #1,269
  5. ↓ 292Kennith#963 → #1,255

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

See the top 100 for 1986 →