Lee
A boys’ name of Old English origin, meaning meadow, clearing.
How Lee has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #677 |
| 2016 | #665 |
| 2017 | #680 |
| 2018 | #690 |
| 2019 | #785 |
| 2020 | #770 |
| 2021 | #700 |
| 2022 | #697 |
| 2023 | #706 |
| 2024 | #714 |
| 2025 | #727 |
Lee by the numbers
In 2025, 27 babies in England and Wales were named Lee. In the US, 385 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 3,685 babies in 1951, so it is a 1950s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1900, about 1 in 240 American boys born that year was called Lee.
Names that come from Lee
Forms of Lee in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Annaleegrace and meadow; a modern blend of Anna and Lee287 in the US (2017)
- Tommy-Leetwin; meadow; compound of Tom and Lee60 in England and Wales (2025)
- Leeannmeadow grace; a form of Lee and Ann59 in the US (2017)
- Annsleecombination of Ann and Lee, grace and meadow32 in the US (2017)
- Albie-Leenoble brightness; compound of Albie and Lee8 in England and Wales (2025)
- Alfie-Leeelf counsel with meadow; compound of Alfie and Lee7 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ivy-Leeivy plant and meadow; compound of Ivy and Lee5 in England and Wales (2025)
- Luca-Leefrom lucania; combination of Luca and Lee5 in England and Wales (2025)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Lee. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Sounds like Lee
Names that are said the same way as Lee, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Leighmeadow or field59 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean a meadow or field
Like Lee, each of these has a meadow or field in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Rileyvaliant; rye clearing7,797 in the US (2017)
- Braydenbroad valley; a modern respelling of Braden5,153 in the US (2017)
- Bentleymeadow of bent grass3,945 in the US (2017)
- Haydenvalley with hay3,623 in the US (2017)
- Wesleywestern meadow3,607 in the US (2017)
- Ryleerye clearing; a respelling of Ryley2,971 in the US (2017)