Garylee
An invented masculine name derived from Gary and Lee, both meaning "spear".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Garylee. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Garylee today is around 47 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Garylee births was 1985 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Garylee. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Garylee. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1985
7 babies that year
Average age
47
years old
1985 SSA rank
#5,349
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Garylee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Garylee from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 7 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Garylee by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Garylee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Garylee
The given name Garylee is a unique amalgamation of two distinct names, Gary and Lee, both of which have rich histories and origins. The name Gary is derived from the Old English word "gær," meaning "spear," suggesting a connection to warriors or hunters in ancient times. Its roots can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, spanning from the 5th to the 11th centuries.
Lee, on the other hand, has its origins in the Old English word "leah," which translates to "clearing" or "meadow." This name was commonly used to refer to individuals who lived in or near such natural landscapes. The combination of these two names, Garylee, creates a unique blend of warrior-like strength and a connection to nature.
While there are no known historical references to the specific name Garylee in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the earliest recorded instances of individuals bearing this name can be found in various historical records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
One notable figure with the name Garylee was Garylee Buffington (1892-1967), an American baseball player who played as an outfielder for the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1910s. Another individual of historical significance was Garylee Hawkins (1901-1988), a renowned architect from New York who designed several notable buildings, including the Hawkins Tower in Manhattan.
In the realm of literature, Garylee Whittier (1918-2003) was an acclaimed American poet and author, known for her works exploring themes of nature and the human experience. Her collection of poems, "Whispers from the Meadow," published in 1965, was highly praised by critics.
Garylee Michaels (1932-2011) was a pioneering figure in the field of environmental law, playing a crucial role in shaping legislation to protect natural resources and combat pollution in the United States.
Lastly, Garylee Davis (1947-present) is a respected historian and educator, renowned for her extensive research and publications on the cultural heritage and traditions of Native American communities.
These individuals, spanning various fields and eras, have contributed to the rich tapestry of the name Garylee, showcasing its diverse and multifaceted nature while embodying the essence of strength, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the natural world.
People
Garylee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Garylee as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Garylee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Garylee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Garylee going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Garylee a common name?
We classify Garylee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Garylee most popular?
The single biggest year for Garylee was 1985, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Garylee is about 47 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Garylee in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Garylee a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Garylee in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Garylee still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Garylee in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Garylee can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Garylee?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Garylee on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.