Unisex name · since 1952
Li
Since 1952, U.S. Social Security records show 250 babies named Li, peaking in 1983. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #17,596 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 250
- born since 1952
- 1980s
- peak decade
Li is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 250 have been recorded since 1952.
Social Security Administration records show Li recorded 250 times among girls since 1952, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1952 to 2009.
- #17,596 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 250 born since 1952
- 1980s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Li ranks #17,596 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 250 born since 1952, peaking in the 1980s.
- #17,596 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 250
- born since 1952
- 1980s
- peak decade
Li's 250 recorded births place it above 75.65% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by New York.
Li's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Li's SSA record in two at 1994 and the more recent half accounts for 50% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 50%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1952, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1983 peak of 14, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Li popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1952–2009
- Peak year (1983)
- 14
- Annual births at peak, across 58 years of records
Li popularity over time - boys
132 total births recorded since 1976 (Li as boys' name)
Li by decade
1980s is the heaviest window (82 births, 33% of the file).
1980s was Li's strongest decade.
82 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Li births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1970s 8
1970s
8 births
- 1980s
1980s
82 births
- 1990s
1990s
79 births
- 2000s
2000s
76 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 82 births (33% of all-time use).
Li by state
Where Li concentrates geographically, total births since 1952
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 38 | 15.2% |
38 of 250 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Li's data
- Li's usage has stayed within range of its 1980s decade-level peak (82 total births) through the 2000s (76) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- New York records the most Lis (38 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Li
Nearby Names Like Li
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Li
Compare Li side by side: Li vs Linda Li vs Lisa Li vs Lillian
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Li: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1983)
Similar record span (~57 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, 1952–2009 (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 Li 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.