Lee is a distinctive choice, ranked #1235 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Lee in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#1235
US Rank #714
About the Name Lee
Lee has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 454 places in five years. It was most popular in 2003 at #130 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Lee is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #714, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Lee
Unlikely. With around 22 UK babies named Lee per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Lee in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Lee has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 454 places in the last five years. Its peak was #130 in 2003. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Lee is more popular in the US (#714) than in the UK (#1235). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Lee include: Albert Lee — Albert William Lee is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique.; Hoon Lee — Tong Hoon Lee is an American actor, known for playing Job in the Cinemax original series Banshee and the King in the Broadway revival of The King and I, and...; Mason Lee — Mason Lee is a Taiwanese-American actor..
Lee ranks #714 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
22
UK babies named Lee (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 454 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Lee
Likely around 1 other Lee in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Lee
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Albert William Lee is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked, both in the studio and on tour, with many famous musicians from a wide range of genres.
Tong Hoon Lee is an American actor, known for playing Job in the Cinemax original series Banshee and the King in the Broadway revival of The King and I, and voicing Hamato Yoshi/Splinter in the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, Shredder in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the White Rabbit in Devil May Cry.
Princess Caroline Lee Radziwill, previously known as Lee Canfield and Lee Ross, was an American socialite, public relations executive, and interior designer. She was the younger sister of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and sister-in-law of President John F.