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How Many People Are Named Lee?
Estimated people named Lee living in the U.S. today
166,248
Gender distribution
78% male · 22% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 295,534
- Peak year: 1956 (5,446 births)
- Estimated living today: 166,248
Lee by age group — who carries the name today?
Lee popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Lee
Lee has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 295,534 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 166,248 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 2,056 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Lees you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Lee in the US?
An estimated 166,248 people named Lee are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Lee uncommon — about 1 in 2,056 Americans.
Is Lee a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Lee is 78% male and 22% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Lee most popular?
Lee peaked in 1956, when 5,446 babies were given the name. Its current trend is steady compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Lee?
Lee ranks #329 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 39 out of 100 (higher means rarer).