Origin
李 is one of the oldest and most widespread Chinese surnames. One traditional account traces it to Gao Yao (皋陶), a legendary minister of justice whose descendants served as judges (lǐ, 理) and later took the homophonous 李, the character for plum, as their surname. The Tang imperial family (618–907) also bore the name, which helped it spread across China.
Distribution and romanization
Li is the most common surname in mainland China, with more than 90 million bearers, and it is also common in Korea (Lee), Vietnam (Lý), and overseas Chinese communities. Outside China it appears as Li, Lee, Ly, and Lee; Cantonese speakers often write it Lee, while Hokkien speakers may use Li.
The character behind the surname
plum; judge; surname
Structure: 7 strokes; Kangxi radical 75.
These are the everyday character meanings. A surname’s lineage history can be separate from the literal meaning of its character.
Using it as a foreigner
If you are choosing a Chinese name, 李 is a safe and familiar surname. It is short, easy to write, and unlikely to be misread. Because it is so common, a full name such as 李明 or 李安澜 reads as a natural Chinese name rather than a costume.
The main pronunciation note is the third tone: lǐ falls and then rises. English speakers often flatten it to “lee”, which is usually understood but not exact. If you want a closer sound, practice the low, dipping tone.
李 pairs easily with one- or two-character given names. It is a good choice if you want a surname that will not draw attention to itself and will let the given name do the work.
How to pronounce it
The Mandarin reading is Lǐ. Say the vowel clearly and pay attention to the tone. If you are using the name in a Cantonese-speaking context, the romanization may be different — check the variants above.
Names with this surname
These are example full names using 李. The link goes to the given-name story, where you can see the character meanings and usage notes.
FAQ
Is 李 a common surname?
Yes. It is one of the more common surnames in China, which makes it familiar and easy to explain.
Can I use 李 as a foreigner?
Yes. A surname is optional, but if you want a full Chinese name, a common surname is a safe place to start. Check the full name out loud and make sure the given name does not create an awkward homophone.
Why are there different spellings?
Romanization is not one system. Mandarin pinyin, Cantonese romanization, and family conventions can all produce different spellings. The variants above are the ones you are most likely to see.
Further reading: Chinese Text Project · Unihan database. These profiles are editorial summaries; specific genealogical claims vary by lineage.