Total births
1,297
Boys' name · since 1880
Lem
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 1,297 babies named Lem, peaking in 1917. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,297
- total births
- 1880–1983
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 18%
- born in that decade
Lem is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,297 have been recorded since 1880.
Social Security Administration records show Lem recorded 1,297 times among boys since 1880, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys 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 1880 to 1983.
- 1,297 total births
- 1880–1983 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 18% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,297 boys have been named Lem since 1880, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1983.
- 1,297
- total births
- 1880–1983
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 18%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
18% of everyone ever named Lem was born in this single decade.
1917
Single peak year
39 babies were named Lem in 1917 - its busiest year on record.
Lem's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Lem's full recorded timeline at 1925, 41% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 59% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1961, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1917 peak of 39 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Lem at a glance
Last recorded 1983Peak year
1917
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1880
Lem popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–1983
- Peak year (1917)
- 39
- Annual births at peak, across 104 years of records
Lem by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Lem's strongest decade.
239 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 18% of all-time use.
Lem births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s
1880s
176 births
- 1890s
1890s
155 births
- 1900s 86
1900s
86 births
- 1910s
1910s
222 births
- 1920s
1920s
239 births
- 1930s
1930s
139 births
- 1940s
1940s
129 births
- 1950s 90
1950s
90 births
- 1960s 44
1960s
44 births
- 1970s 11
1970s
11 births
- 1980s 6
1980s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 239 births (18% of all-time use).
How Lem compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Lem's total volume
Lem vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Lem by state
Where Lem concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mississippi | | 20 | 1.5% |
| #2 | Texas | | 19 | 1.5% |
| #3 | Alabama | | 12 | 0.9% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 11 | 0.8% |
| #5 | Tennessee | | 11 | 0.8% |
| #6 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.4% |
Mississippi share of Lem's total US births 1.5%
Even split
20 of 1,297 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lem? ▼
1,297 babies have been named Lem since 1880. It was last recorded in 1983. The peak year was 1917 with 39 births.
When was Lem most popular? ▼
Lem was most popular in the 1920s decade with 239 total births. The single peak year was 1917.
Where is Lem most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Lem are Mississippi (20 births), Texas (19 births), Alabama (12 births).
How long has the name Lem been used? ▼
Lem has been recorded in Social Security data since 1880, spanning 104 years of data through 1983.
What names are similar to Lem? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Lemuel, Lemar, Lemon, Lemont, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Lem's data
- Lem's decade-level peak was the 1920s (239 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Mississippi records the most Lems (20 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Mississippi 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 Lem
Nearby Names Like Lem
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Lem
Lemuel Boy
#2134 9,965 births
Lemar Boy
#8348 1,895 births
Lemon Boy
1,071 births
Lemont Boy
682 births
Lemmie Boy
666 births
Compare Lem side by side: Lem vs Lemuel Lem vs Lemar Lem vs Lemon
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1880–1983 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Lem: Baby Name Since 1880 - 1,297 Births, Peak 1917." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/lem. 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 Lem 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 July 2026.