lee

Lee is a common surname and given name in English-speaking countries. As a surname, it derives from the Old English leah or lea, meaning meadow or clearing, or from place names such as Lee in various locations. It is also an Anglicized rendering of several East Asian surnames, notably Korean Yi/Lee and Vietnamese Le, with spellings that vary by country and family history.

As a given name, Lee is used for both men and women in the English-speaking world. It is often a stand-alone name or a diminutive form of names such as Leslie, Leonard, or Leander. In modern usage, it appears across a range of cultures and can be found as a first or middle name.

Notable people with the surname include Bruce Lee, a martial artist and actor; Spike Lee, a film director; and Stan Lee, a comics writer and former publisher of Marvel Comics. The given name has been borne by various figures in sports, the arts, and public life, reflecting its broad acceptance in many countries.

Geographically, Lee appears in place names throughout the United States. There are towns named Lee, such as Lee, Massachusetts, and numerous counties named Lee (Lee County) in several states, including Alabama, Florida, and Iowa.

In other contexts, lee is a nautical term meaning the side of a vessel sheltered from the wind; leeward refers to the direction away from the wind. The word also appears in literature and branding, underscoring its versatility as a name and descriptor.