Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Li
Li
How to Pronounce Li
Pronounced LEE /ΛliΛ/Medium
Meaning: Li is a romanization of several distinct Chinese given names that share the spoken syllable but not the character: one Li means 'beautiful,' another 'reason' or 'principle,' another 'plum,' and others carry further senses. Because the meaning lives in the written character, the plain romanized Li can point to any of them.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Li is a romanized Chinese given name rather than a single word, so its meaning depends on the character a family has in mind, from 'beautiful' to 'reason' to 'plum.' It shows up in American records as a heritage name carried by Chinese families, and the same sound routes to several different Chinese names.
It was never common in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year even at its peak in the early nineteen-eighties. A girl named Li then is in her forties today, most often a daughter of a Chinese-heritage household.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Liβ¦
Explore names like Li
Frequently Asked
What does the name Li mean?
It is a romanized Chinese girl's name whose meaning depends on the character, commonly 'beautiful,' 'reason' or 'plum.'
How do you pronounce Li?
It is said LEE /ΛliΛ/ - one syllable.
Is Li a boy or girl name?
Li is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Li?
It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year even at its peak in the nineteen-eighties.