Lee

♀ Girl

Pronounced LEE /ˈli/High

Meaning: From Old English leah, 'a meadow, a clearing, a wood'; a classic unisex name; here for girlsMedium

In 30 seconds: A green meadow: Lee is the English 'a meadow, a clearing'. Crisp, classic, and warm. Used for both sexes.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom Old English leah, 'a meadow, a clearing, a wood'; a classic unisex name; here for girls

U.S. rank (2024)#5214 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births25 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1956

Total births (all-time)≈ 62,278

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Lee comes from Old English leah, 'a meadow, a clearing, a wood' — originally a surname for someone who lived by a meadow. A crisp, classic unisex name (often a middle name), used for both sexes, here for girls.

It registers thinly today as a first name. Rare now, a-meadow at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Lee means 'a meadow, a clearing' (Old English leah) — a crisp, classic unisex name (and the root of countless -lee/-ley names), used for both sexes.

Overall data confidence 72%

Behind the Name — Lee — root etymology

Variations

LeighLeaLeah

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Lee…

Leigh— a fellow spelling

Lea— a companion spelling

Leah— a sound-neighbor name

Liv— another short girls' name

Explore names like Lee

By themeenglish unisex word-name nature

By meaningEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lee mean?

Lee is Old English for 'a meadow, a clearing, a wood'.

How do you pronounce Lee?

It's said LEE /ˈli/ — a single syllable.

Is Lee a boy or girl name?

Lee is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Lee?

Lee is a rare first name for girls in the U.S. today.