Ly

♀ Girl

Pronounced lee /ˈliː/High

Meaning: Ly is a romanization of the Vietnamese name Ly, one of the most storied names in Vietnam, borne by the Ly dynasty that ruled from the eleventh century. It functions as both a family name and a given name and corresponds to the wider East Asian Li line. Spelled without diacritics in United States records, it is said simply 'lee.'Medium

In 30 seconds: Ly is a Vietnamese name, used as a surname and given name and tied to the historic Ly dynasty, recorded for Vietnamese American girls from the early 1970s (said lee).

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Origin MediumVietnamese

MeaningLy is a romanization of the Vietnamese name Ly, one of the most storied names in Vietnam, borne by the Ly dynasty that ruled from the eleventh century. It functions as both a family name and a given name and corresponds to the wider East Asian Li line. Spelled without diacritics in United States records, it is said simply 'lee.'

U.S. rank (2008)#13319 ↗ Rising

2008 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1984

Total births (all-time)≈ 280

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

Ly is the plain-English spelling of the Vietnamese Ly, a name of real historical weight in Vietnam and part of the broader East Asian Li family of names. It works as both surname and given name; in United States birth records it appears among Vietnamese American families, most visibly after the migration waves of the 1970s.

As an American given name it stayed rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year at its 1980s high and tapering off by the late 2000s. Its brevity and heritage make it distinctive; the respelling 'lee' keeps a text-to-speech reader from spelling out the letters.

Did you know? Ly carries the name of the Ly dynasty, which founded Vietnam's long-lived imperial capital at what is now Hanoi, making this two-letter name a deeply rooted one.

Overall data confidence 60%

References - Ly — Vietnamese Ly; surname/given name; Ly dynasty; East Asian Li line

Variations

LiLien

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ly mean?

It is a Vietnamese name, used as both a surname and given name and tied to the historic Ly dynasty.

How do you pronounce Ly?

It's said lee /ˈliː/, one syllable, a single beat.

Is Ly a boy or girl name?

Ly is used as a girl's name.

Is Ly a popular name?

No, it has always been rare in the United States, recorded mainly among Vietnamese American families for a few girls a year.