Le
Primarily a girl's name of Vietnamese origin with 878 recorded births. Also given to 775 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Le is a girl's and boy's baby name of Vietnamese origin, a common Vietnamese given name meaning 'pear' (梨, lê) or as a character meaning 'glass' or 'crystal clear.' In Vietnam, Le is one of the most frequent given names for both boys and girls, and also one of the country's most common surnames.
Le has the characteristic brevity and tonal richness of Vietnamese monosyllabic names — a single syllable that carries concentrated meaning and cultural identity. In the Vietnamese diaspora worldwide, Le is a familiar presence that grounds its bearer in a rich cultural heritage.
EtymologyShow more
Le is built from 2 letters and one syllable — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Vietnamese naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Le creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. One-syllable names stand out for their directness. Every sound carries weight, making pronunciation and first impressions immediate.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Le has 67+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1916.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37 | #15356 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 146 | #6476 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 204 | #4640 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 119 | #5488 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 184 | #3078 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 104 | #4068 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 39 | #4015 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 27 | #3781 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 11 | #4960 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 7 | #3744 | — |
The Story of Le
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1982, Le is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Le are most likely born between 1972 and 1992.
How rare is Le?
With 878 total births on record, Le remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1916, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1980s with 204 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Le by the numbers
- Would fill 18 school buses
- Meeting one Le per day would take 2.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(67 years, 1916–2006)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 6 | #16261 |
| 2005 | 5 | #18026 |
| 2004 | 5 | #17647 |
| 2002 | 5 | #16982 |
| 2001 | 7 | #12845 |
| 2000 | 9 | #10375 |
| 1998 | 11 | #8329 |
| 1997 | 13 | #7099 |
| 1996 | 10 | #8540 |
| 1995 | 10 | #8453 |
| 1994 | 11 | #7916 |
| 1993 | 21 | #4744 |
| 1992 | 26 | #4030 |
| 1991 | 19 | #5103 |
| 1990 | 25 | #4067 |
| 1989 | 13 | #6369 |
| 1988 | 9 | #8089 |
| 1987 | 15 | #5199 |
| 1986 | 11 | #6398 |
| 1985 | 20 | #4068 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Le as a Boy's Name
Le is a true unisex name. As a boy's name, it has 775 recorded births since 1888.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Le a boy's or girl's name?
When was Le most popular?
How popular is the name Le?
Can Le be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1916–2006