Total births
491
Unisex name · since 1886
Lear
Lear has 491 recorded births since 1886 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1920 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 491
- total births
- 1886–1966
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
Lear is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 491 have been recorded since 1886.
Social Security Administration records show Lear recorded 491 times among girls since 1886, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1886 to 1966.
- 491 total births
- 1886–1966 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 28% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
491 girls have been named Lear since 1886, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1966.
- 491
- total births
- 1886–1966
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
28% of everyone ever named Lear was born in this single decade.
1920
Single peak year
23 babies were named Lear in 1920 - its busiest year on record.
Lear's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Lear splits its recorded history at 1922: 47% of all births land in the more recent half, 53% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1889 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1920 peak of 23 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Lear at a glance
Last recorded 1966Peak year
1920
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1886
Lear popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–1966
- Peak year (1920)
- 23
- Annual births at peak, across 81 years of records
Lear popularity over time - boys
36 total births recorded since 1997 (Lear as boys' name)
Lear by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Lear's strongest decade.
137 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 28% of all-time use.
Lear births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 11
1880s
11 births
- 1890s 23
1890s
23 births
- 1900s
1900s
68 births
- 1910s
1910s
120 births
- 1920s
1920s
137 births
- 1930s
1930s
70 births
- 1940s 39
1940s
39 births
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1960s 18
1960s
18 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 137 births (28% of all-time use).
Lear by state
Where Lear concentrates geographically, total births since 1886
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 6 | 1.2% |
| #2 | Louisiana | | 5 | 1.0% |
| #3 | Mississippi | | 5 | 1.0% |
| #4 | Tennessee | | 5 | 1.0% |
North Carolina share of Lear's total US births 1.2%
Even split
6 of 491 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lear? ▼
Lear has been given to 491 babies in the U.S. since 1886, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1966. 23 babies were born in 1920, its single highest year.
When was Lear most popular? ▼
Lear was most popular in the 1920s decade with 137 total births. The single peak year was 1920.
Where is Lear most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Lear are North Carolina (6 births), Louisiana (5 births), Mississippi (5 births).
Is Lear a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Lear is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 491 births, and as a boy's name it has 36 births.
How long has the name Lear been used? ▼
Records for Lear go back to 1886, giving 81 years of history through 1966.
What names are similar to Lear? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Leah, Lea, Leanne, Leanna, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Lear's data
- Lear's decade-level peak was the 1920s (137 total births); usage has since declined to 18 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Lears (6 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Lear
Nearby Names Like Lear
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Lear
Leah Girl
#53 256,488 births
Lea Girl
#833 33,848 births
Leanne Girl
#2703 29,627 births
Leanna Girl
#904 25,932 births
Leann Girl
#3770 24,356 births
Compare Lear side by side: Lear vs Leah Lear vs Lea Lear vs Leanne
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1886–1966 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Lear: Baby Name Since 1886 - 491 Births, Peak 1920." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/lear. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Lear draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.