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.
- #4,358 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,297
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak 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.
- #4,358 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 1,297 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Lem ranks #4,358 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,297 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #4,358 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,297
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Lem's 1,297 recorded births place it above 90.41% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
6 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Mississippi.
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 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
1920s is the heaviest window (239 births, 18% of the file).
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 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% |
20 of 1,297 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lem? ▼
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When was Lem most popular? ▼
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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
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
Compare Lem side by side: Lem vs Lemuel Lem vs Lemar Lem vs Lemon
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Lem: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1917)
Similar record span (~103 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, 1880–1983 (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 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 August 2026.