Ben vs Lee

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ben

Boy #802 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"short form of Benjamin: son of the right hand"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Hebrew German Dutch American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#802
Total SSA Count
313
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Benny, Benji

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Ben →

Lee

Boy #715 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"meadow, woodland clearing"

Origin: Old English leah

Cultural Roots

English American Chinese (as Li) Korean

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#715
Total SSA Count
370
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Lee' rhymes with 'pee'"}

Full profile for Lee →

Popularity Comparison

Ben Rank #802
Lee Rank #715

Lee is more popular, ranked #715 vs #802 for Ben.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Ben ___

  • Ben James
  • Ben Alexander
  • Ben Oliver
  • Ben Thomas
  • Ben William
  • Ben Samuel

Lee ___

  • Lee James
  • Lee Andrew
  • Lee Michael
  • Lee Thomas
  • Lee Roy
  • Lee Wayne

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Ben

Sam Eli Nora Lucy Max

If you choose Lee

Dale Roy Kay Mae Scott

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ben or Lee more popular?

Lee is more popular, ranked #715 compared to Ben at #802 in the United States.

What do Ben and Lee mean?

Ben means "short form of Benjamin: son of the right hand" (Hebrew origin). Lee means "meadow, woodland clearing" (Old English leah origin).

Are Ben and Lee boy or girl names?

Ben is primarily a boy name. Lee is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Lee vs Ben Ben vs Jerry Ben vs Stanley Ben vs Santana Ben vs Santos
← Full profile: Ben ← Full profile: Lee Browse all baby names