Unisex · #13,455 in 2026

Lean

Current Rank
#13,455
Peak Rank
#3,245 (1985)
Total Babies
671
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #3,245 (671 total)
👦 Boy peak #2,725 (231 total)
👧As Girl Name
1916
First Year
2023
Last Year
1985
Peak Year
#3245
Peak Rank
671
Total Count
68
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
1919
First Year
2026
Last Year
2014
Peak Year
#2725
Peak Rank
231
Total Count
26
Years Active

The Story of Lean

As a girl name

Lean first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1916, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1985, when 27 Leans were born — ranking #3,245 that year. As of 2026, Lean ranks #13,455 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 671 Leans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Lean first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1919, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2014, when 16 Leans were born — ranking #5,482 that year. As of 2026, Lean ranks #6,412 for boys with 13 births, gradually rising (+6%). In total, more than 231 Leans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Lean

Phonetically similar names — useful when Lean is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lean

What does the name Lean mean?
Lean is a girl's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1916. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.
How popular is Lean in 2026?
In 2026, Lean ranks #13,455 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Lean most popular?
Lean reached its peak popularity in 1985, ranking #3,245 that year with 27 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Lean most popular?
Lean has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Lean.
Is Lean a unisex name?
Yes — Lean is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 74% of Leans assigned female and 26% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Lean?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Lean include Shirin, Sidnee, Shareese. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Lean

Lean is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1916 and has accumulated 671 births in the dataset. Lean's peak popularity came in 1985 when it ranked #3,245. Use the chart and map above to compare Lean's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.