Oralee
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly related to the French word "oraille" meaning "earlobe".
Name Census estimates that about 105 living Americans carry the first name Oralee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Oralee today is around 79 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Oralee births was 1919 (29 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Oralee. 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
- • The typical person named Oralee is about 79 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Oralees were born before 1957.
People living today
105
~ 1 in 3,264,327 Americans
Peak year
1919
29 babies that year
Average age
79
years old
1979 SSA rank
#11,399
Tracked since 1902
Popularity
Oralee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Oralee from the 1900s through to the 1970s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 192 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Oralee 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 Oralee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Oralees live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. South Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana recorded the most babies named Oralee, while Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Oralee
The name Oralee finds its origins in the Old English language, tracing back to the 9th century CE. It is a composite name derived from the Old English words "ora," meaning "prayer," and "lea," signifying a meadow or clearing. The name Oralee initially gained popularity among Anglo-Saxon communities, particularly those residing in the countryside of present-day England.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Oralee can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record mentions an Oralee of Wessex, who was a landowner in the region. However, details about her life and significance remain scarce.
During the Middle Ages, the name Oralee held a strong connection to religious devotion and the natural beauty of the English countryside. It was often bestowed upon young girls born in rural areas, symbolizing the purity and serenity associated with meadows and the act of prayer.
In the 14th century, an Oralee of Canterbury gained recognition as a skilled embroiderer. Her intricate needlework adorned the vestments of several high-ranking clergymen in the region, showcasing the artistic talents often attributed to individuals bearing this name.
The Renaissance period saw the emergence of Oralee Browne (1495-1567), a notable herbalist and apothecary from London. Browne's expertise in the medicinal properties of plants earned her a reputation among the city's wealthy and influential families, making her a respected figure in her field.
In the 18th century, Oralee Abigail Winslow (1723-1801) left her mark as an accomplished poet and essayist. Born in Massachusetts, Winslow's writings often explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the struggles of colonial life, providing valuable insights into the era's intellectual and cultural landscape.
During the Victorian era, Oralee Emilia Balfour (1842-1918) gained recognition as a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. Hailing from Scotland, Balfour established several schools for girls, promoting equal access to education and challenging societal norms of the time.
While the name Oralee has fallen out of widespread use in modern times, its historical significance remains rooted in its connection to spirituality, nature, and the pursuit of knowledge and artistic expression throughout various periods of history.
People
Oralee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Oralee as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Oralee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Oralee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 105 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Oralee 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 3,264,327 US residents.
Is Oralee a common name?
We classify Oralee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 662 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Oralee most popular?
The single biggest year for Oralee was 1919, when 29 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Oralee is about 79 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Oralee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Oralee in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.