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.
- #11,989 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 491
- born since 1886
- 1920s
- peak 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.
- #11,989 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 491 born since 1886
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Lear ranks #11,989 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 491 born since 1886, peaking in the 1920s.
- #11,989 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 491
- born since 1886
- 1920s
- peak decade
Lear's 491 recorded births place it above 83.41% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 4 jurisdictions, led by North Carolina.
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 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
1920s is the heaviest window (137 births, 28% of the file).
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% |
6 of 491 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lear? ▼
Where does Lear sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Lear most popular? ▼
Where is Lear most popular? ▼
Is Lear a unisex name? ▼
How long has the name Lear been used? ▼
What names are similar to Lear? ▼
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
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
Compare Lear side by side: Lear vs Leah Lear vs Lea Lear vs Leanne
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Lear: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1920)
Similar record span (~80 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.