Lee: Name Meaning, Origin, & Popularity

Girl name origins & meanings

What does Lee mean and stand for as a girl's name?

Meaning:

Hebrew: Weary
Old English: Glade; English moor; meadow; outdoors-loving
Gaelic: Poet, song
English: Sheltered from the storm
Irish: Poetic
Chinese: Plum
Korean: Plum tree
Scottish: Dweller in the gray castle
Old English: Small meadow; dweller by the deer meadow

Gender: Female, unisex

Syllables: 1

Pronunciation: The name Lee is pronounced lee

When used as a girl's name, Lee embodies the serene imagery of a "meadow" or "clearing" from its Old English roots. In Chinese, it retains the sweet connotation of a "plum." Additionally, in Irish, Lee can mean "poet" or "song," adding a lyrical and artistic dimension to its meaning.

Girl name variations

Boy name origins & meanings

What does Lee mean and stand for as a boy's name?

Meaning:

Hebrew: Weary
Old English: Glade; English moor; meadow; outdoors-loving
Gaelic: Poet, song
English: Sheltered from the storm
Irish: Poetic
Chinese: Plum
Korean: Plum tree
Scottish: Dweller in the gray castle
Old English: Small meadow; dweller by the deer meadow

Gender: Male, unisex

Syllables: 1

Pronunciation: The name Lee is pronounced lee

When used as a boy's name, Lee retains its original meanings from both Old English and Chinese origins. With its English interpretation, it evokes images of serene meadows and open pastures, suggesting a connection to nature and tranquility. In its Chinese context, the name carries the sweet and delicate symbolism of the plum. The name Lee's straightforward charm and timeless appeal continue to make it a favored choice for boys across different cultural backgrounds.

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

English: topographic name for someone who lived near a meadow or a patch of arable land, Middle English lee, lea, from Old English lēa, dative case (used after a preposition) of lēah, which originally meant "wood" or "glade."

English: habitational name from any of the many places named with Old English lēah "wood", "glade", as for example Lee in Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Kent, and Shropshire, and Lea in Cheshire, Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, and Wiltshire.

Irish: reduced Americanized form of Ó Laoidhigh "descendant of Laoidheach", a personal name derived from laoidh "poem", "song" (originally a byname for a poet).

American: Americanized spelling of Norwegian Li or Lie.

Lee is a prominent VA family name brought over in 1641 by Richard Lee (d. 1664), a VA planter and legislator. His great-grandsons included the brothers Arthur, Francis L., Richard Henry, and William Lee, all prominent American Revolution legislators and diplomats.

Chinese: variant of Li, 1.

Chinese: variant of Li, 2.

Chinese: variant of Li, 3.

Korean: variant of Yi.

Famous people with this last name

Jason Lee

Tommy Lee

Spike Lee

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Ringo Starr

Lee in Pop Culture

Do you know these fictional characters that share this first name?

Lee Adama from Battlestar Galactica - A skilled Viper pilot and son of Commander William Adama.
Lee Jordan from Harry Potter - The Quidditch commentator and close friend of the Weasley twins.
Lee Scoresby from His Dark Materials - An aeronaut and ally to Lyra Belacqua.
Lee Everett from The Walking Dead (video game) - A former history professor and protagonist in Telltale's game series.
Lee Shaw from Person of Interest - A NYPD Detective who uncovers one of Finch's secrets.

Popularity of the Name Lee

According to Social Security Administration data, the name Lee has seen varying levels of popularity over the years. Historically, Lee was more common as a given name for males but has also been used for females. Lee reached its peak popularity in the early 20th century but has since seen a decline in usage.

Notable individuals with the name include General Robert E. Lee, a key Confederate commander during the American Civil War, and Bruce Lee, a legendary martial artist and actor known for his roles in movies like Enter the Dragon and The Way of the Dragon. In literature and media, Lee Child is a well-known author famous for the Jack Reacher series of novels. Fictional characters named Lee can be found in various works, such as Lee Adama from the sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica.