Lee

“One who lived near a meadow” — Old English origin

Boy's name · #727 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Lee holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#727 in 2025). About 234,000 boys have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Around the world: about 1 in 2,200 boys in Ireland (2025) · about 1 in 6,500 boys in Scotland (2025) · about 1 in 8,400 boys in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 32 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Lees

Lee Harvey Oswald — American former marine who assassinated John F. Kennedy (1939–1963)
Lee Marvin — American actor (1924–1987)
Lee Van Cleef — American actor (1925–1989)
Lee Teng-hui — 7-9th President of Republic of China(Taiwan) (1923-2020)
Lee de Forest — American inventor (1873–1961)

In stories & tradition

Lee (Sheldon Cooper) — The Big Bang Theory · Young Sheldon
Lee Jordan — Harry Potter · Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Lee (Chucky) — Child's Play

What Lees become

Among 7,373 notable people named Lee:

Sports figures appear 2.05× more often than among typical names — e.g. Lee Cattermole, English footballer (born 1988).

Similar names: Eddie · Lyle · Harley · Ray · Willie · Harry

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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