Lear: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	11	–	11	1	–	#1,042
1890s	23	–	23	2	+109%	#1,466
1900s	68	–	68	7	+196%	#1,174
1910s	120	–	120	12	+76%	#1,574
1920s	137	–	137	14	+14%	#1,783
1930s	70	–	70	7	-49%	#2,786
1940s	39	–	39	4	-44%	#2,913
1950s	5	–	5	1	-87%	#5,724
1960s	18	–	18	2	+260%	#5,451
1970s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	5	5	1	–	–
2000s	–	6	6	1	+20%	–
2010s	–	25	25	3	+317%	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#1,042

1890s

–

+109%

#1,466

1900s

–

+196%

#1,174

1910s

120

–

120

+76%

#1,574

1920s

137

–

137

+14%

#1,783

1930s

–

-49%

#2,786

1940s

–

-44%

#2,913

1950s

–

-87%

#5,724

1960s

–

+260%

#5,451

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

+20%

–

2010s

–

+317%

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Lear

Lear is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1886, 527 American babies have been named Lear, about 93% girls and 7% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1920, when 23 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Lear stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Lear?

The median living Lear is about 65 years old; half are between 16 and 85. An estimated 100 people named Lear are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Lear year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	7	#10,193
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	6	#11,584
2012	–	–	6	#11,671
2011	–	–	6	#11,697
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	6	#11,875
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	7	#5,451	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	5	#5,724	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	7	#3,693	–	–
1935	5	#4,579	–	–
1930	8	#3,514	–	–
1925	7	#4,238	–	–
1920	23	#1,783	–	–
1915	12	#2,471	–	–
1910	10	#1,574	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	9	#1,375	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Lear, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Lear?

The median living Lear is about 65 years old. Half of all living Lears are between 16 and 85 years old.

How many people named Lear are alive today?

An estimated 100 people named Lear are alive in the United States, based on 527 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Lear in 2025?

Lear did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Lear?

527 babies have been named Lear in the United States since 1886, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Lear most popular?

Lear peaked in 1920, when 23 newborns received the name.

Is Lear a boy or girl name?

Lear is used for both: about 93% of babies named Lear have been girls and 7% boys.

Is the name Lear rising or falling?

Lear has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Lear

Lear popularity over time

The story of Lear

How old are people named Lear?

Lear year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Lear