Fun Facts About the Name Idalee
- 98 babies named Idalee: U.S. records list 98 babies given the name Idalee from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Idalee Mean?
Idalee is a feminine compound name formed by joining Ida and Lee. The first element, Ida, is a Germanic name generally explained as coming from a root meaning "labor" or "work" (compare Old Norse íð, "deed, work"). A competing explanation connects it with other Germanic material, and the older history of the name is not fully settled, so the etymology is best treated as probable rather than certain. Ida was borne in early medieval England by Ida of Bernicia, a sixth-century king, and later by holy women in Germany, which helped keep the name in use.
The second element, Lee, derives from Old English lēah, "woodland clearing" or "meadow." It appears first as a place-name element and a surname before it became a given name, and it is frequently used as the short second part of double feminine names. In Idalee the two names are simply combined, so the compound carries both inherited senses rather than one new meaning.
Idalee Name History & Origins
Idalee belongs to a pattern of double feminine names in which Ida is joined to a second element. Such pairings appeared frequently in English-speaking countries, particularly the United States, in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; Idabelle, Idamae, and Idalene are close relatives in the same style. Names of this kind were usually assembled within families rather than taken from classical, biblical, or saintly tradition.
Idalee itself is uncommon, and its earliest uses are not documented in standard name references, so it is best understood as a modern compound rather than a name with a long separate history. Its first element carries the medieval and religious associations of Ida, while the -lee ending reflects the Old English place word lēah, "clearing" or "meadow," which also lies behind the surname and given name Lee.
How Popular is the Name Idalee?
Idalee has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1924. Its best rank was #3,019 in 1914.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #16,029 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #16,453 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #15,323 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #15,962 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #13,261 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #4,248 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1942 | #4,321 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #4,638 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #3,970 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #4,593 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #5,151 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1925 | #4,657 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #3,811 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #5,313 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1918 | #5,154 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1914 | #3,019 | 7 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #3,413 | 5 | 0.0008% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with I
How the Name Idalee Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Idalee's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Idalee's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.