Lee
Boy name · #725 in 2025 · Uniqueness 54/100
Lee is currently the #725 boy name in the United States — 366 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #677, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,918 boys born in 2025 was named Lee.
Babies named Lee per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Lee first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 361 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1951, when 3,682 boys were named Lee — good for #92 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lee against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lee in class?
Lee scores 54 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Lee is most common
Geography matters for names, and Lee is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Lees were TX (30), PA (26), CA (20), NY (19), IN (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Lee
Statistically, parents drawn to Lee tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lawrence, Eddie, Wayne, Ray, and Joe.
LawrenceEddieWayneRayJoeLanceNeilRoy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lee | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 366 | #725 |
| 2024 | 370 | #716 |
| 2023 | 377 | #705 |
| 2022 | 379 | #698 |
| 2021 | 378 | #700 |
| 2020 | 313 | #768 |
| 2019 | 297 | #783 |
| 2018 | 352 | #689 |
| 2017 | 369 | #681 |
| 2016 | 390 | #664 |
| 2015 | 375 | #677 |
| 2014 | 350 | #703 |
| 2013 | 361 | #668 |
| 2012 | 357 | #662 |
| 2011 | 353 | #669 |
| 2010 | 353 | #676 |
| 2009 | 374 | #658 |
| 2008 | 361 | #670 |
| 2007 | 382 | #635 |
| 2006 | 391 | #610 |
| 2005 | 384 | #589 |
| 2004 | 412 | #557 |
| 2003 | 403 | #556 |
| 2002 | 439 | #516 |
| 2001 | 513 | #464 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lee a popular boy name?
Lee ranked #725 among boys in 2025 with 366 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #677.
When was the name Lee most popular?
Lee peaked in 1951, when 3,682 American boys received the name (ranked #92 that year). Since 1951 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lee?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,918 newborn American boys was named Lee. It scores 54/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.