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Lee as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Lee

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The baby name Lee is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /liː/ (LEE).

Lee is Chinese, English, Korean in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: Chinese, English, Korean
Pronunciation: /liː/ (LEE)

What is the meaning of the name Lee ?

The baby name Lee is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /liː/ (LEE).

Lee is Chinese, English, Korean in Origin.

Lee is a concise, unisex given name in English, arising from a surname based on Old English leah, “clearing” or “meadow,” referring to someone who lived by a woodland opening. It is sometimes confused with the nautical word lee (“shelter from the wind”), which has a different root. Spellings and related forms include Leigh (especially British), Lea, and the compound or hyphenated forms Lee-Ann/LeeAnn and Leanne used particularly for girls; Lee also appears frequently as a middle-name element.

As a given name, Lee spread in the UK and United States through the 19th century’s surname-to-forename trend, peaking for boys and girls in the mid–20th century and maintaining a steady, crisp, gender-neutral profile. Well-known bearers span Lee Marvin and Lee Trevino to Lee Remick and Lee Radziwill. In Chinese and Korean contexts, Lee is a common romanization of surnames (Li; Yi/Rhee), often meaning “plum,” further broadening its cultural associations.

Lee has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Lee

Lee Myung-bak Politician · Born 1941 · South Korea Lee Myung-bak is best known as the 10th president of South Korea, serving from 2008 to 2013. Often called by his initials, MB, he is a South Korean politician and business executive who also served as mayor of Seoul from 2002 to 2006. Lee Hsien Loong Politician · Born 1952 · Singapore Lee Hsien Loong is best known as Singapore’s third Prime Minister, serving from 2004 to 2024. A Singaporean politician and former military officer, he became Senior Minister in 2024 and also led the ruling People’s Action Party as its secretary-general from 2004 to 2024. Lee Teng-hui Politician · Born 1923 · Taiwan Lee Teng-hui was best known as Taiwan’s fourth president and a major figure in the island’s democratic transition. A Taiwanese statesman, economist, and agronomist, he served as president of the Republic of China and chairman of the Kuomintang from 1988 to 2000, becoming the first president born in Taiwan, the last chosen indirectly, and the first elected by direct popular vote.
Liberace Musician · Born 1919 · United States Liberace, born in 1919, was a flamboyant American musician known for his virtuosic piano performances and extravagant stage presence. He became a household name through his television show 'The Liberace Show' and was famous for his rendition of 'Chopsticks'. His lavish lifestyle and sparkling costumes made him a beloved entertainer in the United States. Lee Ranaldo Musician · Born 1956 · United States Lee Ranaldo is a musician from the United States, best known as a guitarist and vocalist for the influential alternative rock band Sonic Youth. He contributed to albums like 'Daydream Nation' and 'Goo', which helped shape the sound of the genre. Born in 1956, Ranaldo has also pursued solo projects and collaborated with various artists throughout his career. Lee "Scratch" Perry Musician · Born 1936 · Jamaica Lee "Scratch" Perry was a Jamaican producer, songwriter, and singer best known for pioneering dub music and revolutionizing reggae production. He became famous for his innovative use of remixing and studio effects, with influential works including "People Funny Boy," "Roast Fish & Corn Bread," and the album Super Ape.

Lee – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
Ireland Girls 2003 #1 — 735
KR 0 #2 11 201
KR Boys 0 #2 87 897
KR Girls 0 #2 34 572
KH 0 #3 1 102
SG Boys 0 #3 6,821 17,960
SG 0 #3 1,121 11,010
MY 0 #5 2,050 12,352
SG Girls 0 #5 4,405 18,916
MY Girls 0 #6 14,258 24,821
MY Boys 0 #7 20,037 25,439
FJ Girls 0 #8 2 583
KH Boys 0 #8 2 270
BN 0 #14 18 2,297
BW 0 #19 1 960
HK 0 #19 707 8,483
BN Boys 0 #25 166 6,332
CN Boys 0 #28 845 9,639
NA 0 #29 5 2,537
BN Girls 0 #30 88 5,459
CN 0 #31 55 3,857
MO 0 #32 21 2,706
MV Girls 0 #32 4 2,021
HK Boys 0 #33 3,870 12,905
MT 0 #36 8 1,767
TM Boys 0 #36 1 614
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
HK Girls 0 #38 3,156 16,104
ID 0 #38 2 2,238
TW 0 #39 65 4,523
AZ 0 #43 1 706
BI Boys 0 #44 1 917
TW Boys 0 #45 378 7,111
CN Girls 0 #52 739 8,829
PR 0 #52 4 1,497
CM 0 #53 4 2,592
TW Girls 0 #59 324 8,139
CY 0 #60 1 1,632
PH 0 #61 36 5,607
LU 0 #62 5 2,830
MO Boys 0 #63 216 5,842
JP 0 #67 11 4,057
AL 0 #75 2 2,372
AO 0 #75 3 2,729
AZ Girls 0 #75 1 1,051
MV Boys 0 #75 5 3,375
QA 0 #76 25 7,011
JM 0 #77 11 3,714
KZ 0 #93 2 1,452
ID Girls 0 #94 9 3,319
OM 0 #96 21 6,215
ZA 0 #96 470 14,421
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
BW Boys 0 #103 47 4,685
MO Girls 0 #111 159 7,056
HU 0 #114 2 1,675
IL 0 #115 200 6,291
ID Boys 0 #116 16 4,130
BW Girls 0 #119 30 4,216
IL Girls 0 #119 1,225 11,648
KW 0 #119 3 5,216
MT Boys 0 #121 57 4,064
PS 0 #121 100 5,692
CY Boys 0 #123 9 3,473
EE Boys 0 #124 2 2,087
AE 0 #131 47 10,220
IQ 0 #131 3 3,533
GR 0 #134 2 3,911
MU 0 #135 3 3,613
Switzerland Boys 2024 #136 2 1,769
EE Girls 0 #136 7 1,888
PA 0 #138 1 3,797
JO 0 #139 2 2,158
CR 0 #143 16 5,526
MT Girls 0 #147 7 3,773
ZA Girls 0 #147 3,820 25,928
LT Boys 0 #151 1 2,166
NA Boys 0 #152 85 6,830
PH Boys 0 #152 285 11,440
RS Boys 0 #154 1 2,277
NA Girls 0 #158 67 7,146
JM Boys 0 #161 119 6,876
PR Girls 0 #161 7 3,171
HU Boys 0 #165 10 3,954
LU Girls 0 #171 15 4,850
PR Boys 0 #174 5 2,508
SI Girls 0 #177 1 2,769
Sweden Girls 2022 #178 2 1,568
HR 0 #178 4 2,081
PS Girls 0 #179 561 10,981
RU 0 #180 10 3,641
Sweden Boys 2022 #181 2 1,509
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
LU Boys 0 #188 31 4,970
PH Girls 0 #189 224 13,098
AR 0 #192 2 2,915
DK 0 #202 5 5,198
JM Girls 0 #203 57 7,507
PL 0 #209 4 2,600
SI Boys 0 #209 3 3,402
AO Girls 0 #216 2 4,575
BG Boys 0 #218 3 3,850
QA Girls 0 #223 94 15,378
HU Girls 0 #224 2 3,308
JP Girls 0 #225 21 6,592
AL Girls 0 #227 1 4,141
GH 0 #228 16 5,396
BG Girls 0 #231 1 3,559
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
JP Boys 0 #236 62 7,909
BD 0 #239 3 5,992
PT 0 #242 9 4,161
ZA Boys 0 #242 2,605 25,619
AO Boys 0 #244 6 5,568
NG 0 #245 20 5,926
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
GR Girls 0 #246 4 6,293
HR Boys 0 #251 9 3,997
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
SA 0 #258 38 10,560
KZ Boys 0 #260 30 6,578
GR Boys 0 #265 9 6,912
AF Boys 0 #272 3 3,535
Canada Girls 2022 #276 5 2,867
CZ Boys 0 #276 29 6,530
HR Girls 0 #287 8 3,687
Canada Boys 2024 #288 19 2,588
GH Girls 0 #290 35 6,973
KZ Girls 0 #291 30 5,862
AL Boys 0 #299 5 5,122
PE 0 #301 10 6,350
OM Girls 0 #302 95 15,987
DK Girls 0 #307 10 7,429
DK Boys 0 #307 19 7,401
JO Girls 0 #312 14 7,570
GH Boys 0 #313 33 8,138
PL Boys 0 #313 23 6,459
KW Girls 0 #319 200 19,177
SD Girls 0 #319 27 7,678
MU Girls 0 #326 26 8,539
CZ Girls 0 #328 14 5,378
PT Boys 0 #328 40 7,951
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
MU Boys 0 #340 18 8,477
YE 0 #349 33 8,639
BR 0 #352 9 5,969
AE Girls 0 #356 199 20,968
PL Girls 0 #356 9 5,096
NL 0 #362 30 2,481
JO Boys 0 #366 12 7,057
BD Girls 0 #369 18 8,413
Finland Girls 0 #370 22 1,368
France Boys 2021 #380 8 2,865
EG 0 #387 14 6,387
CR Boys 0 #399 89 10,188
Finland Boys 0 #401 27 2,041
France Girls 2021 #403 3 3,185
Germany 0 #404 34 2,542
MX 0 #404 10 8,339
Austria Girls 0 #408 13 1,885
UY Boys 0 #408 6 5,922
SD Boys 0 #409 37 10,523
PT Girls 0 #415 37 7,952
Austria Boys 0 #419 24 2,180
CL 0 #428 7 6,867
RU Girls 0 #430 69 11,913
Spain 0 #431 22 2,326
RU Boys 0 #431 75 12,621
BH 0 #439 115 17,937
IQ Girls 0 #451 54 11,303
PS Boys 0 #452 97 10,655
IL Boys 0 #456 154 10,983
CO 0 #467 14 7,768
AR Boys 0 #475 9 7,628
CM Boys 0 #495 56 12,054
GT Boys 0 #497 3 7,625
PA Boys 0 #497 9 9,305
LY 0 #501 35 12,703
IR Girls 0 #504 27 8,334
CR Girls 0 #507 26 11,342
SA Girls 0 #509 462 25,931
PA Girls 0 #510 9 9,861
CM Girls 0 #517 24 11,671
IR Boys 0 #520 33 10,162
UY Girls 0 #536 1 6,731
GT Girls 0 #539 3 7,500
BD Boys 0 #551 26 10,045
IQ Boys 0 #554 114 13,071
United States Boys 2024 #560 370 7,044
QA Boys 0 #567 141 18,093
IN Girls 0 #577 55 13,121
BO Boys 0 #580 13 9,244
CL Boys 0 #620 46 13,390
LB 0 #624 35 13,263
AR Girls 0 #628 3 8,289
KW Boys 0 #636 134 18,755
BO Girls 0 #648 4 9,488
Finland Boys 2026 #649 34 3,552
IT 0 #653 62 4,183
NG Boys 0 #666 310 16,906
NG Girls 0 #667 121 15,093
BR Boys 0 #675 77 12,213
Germany Girls 0 #702 138 4,949
SY 0 #702 27 11,684
NL Boys 0 #710 246 5,873
Finland Girls 2026 #712 27 3,895
TN 0 #717 113 13,765
OM Boys 0 #741 141 17,948
Spain Boys 0 #744 189 5,610
Germany Boys 0 #764 189 5,697
EG Boys 0 #770 117 15,035
MA 0 #770 377 20,986
PE Boys 0 #779 100 14,506
AE Boys 0 #810 286 22,615
CL Girls 0 #817 35 14,098
EG Girls 0 #838 122 14,742
BR Girls 0 #847 95 12,708
NL Girls 0 #867 89 5,933
IN Boys 0 #874 128 16,750
CO Boys 0 #888 33 15,656
United States Girls 2024 #892 25 8,487
DZ 0 #919 259 20,130
MX Boys 0 #920 63 16,355
PE Girls 0 #934 10 14,861
Spain Girls 0 #949 35 5,561
SA Boys 0 #1,009 705 28,008
CO Girls 0 #1,069 10 16,140
TR 0 #1,105 107 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,142 42 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,199 273 10,046
IT Girls 0 #1,267 180 9,415

Lee is popular in 92 countries — most recent births per country:

Ireland
France
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada
Ireland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Lee

Lee is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Lee is a one syllable name, pronounced /liː/ (LEE).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Leigh, Lea and Li.
Across languages, Lee has these equivalents: {'Chinese': 'Li (李), 'Korean': 'Lee / Yi (이).
Yes, very popular — Lee ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 9 countries.
Lee ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Yes — 9 notable people named Lee are in our database, including Lee Myung-bak (Politician), Lee Hsien Loong (Politician), Lee Teng-hui (Politician).