This is a list of people with the surname Li (æÂÂ). Làis the pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname written in Chinese character. It is one of the most common surnames in China and the world, shared by more than 93 million people in China, and more than 100 million worldwide. It is often spelled as Lee in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and many overseas Chinese communities. In Macau, it is also spelled as Lei. It is commonly spelled in Indonesia as Lie, and in Vietnam it is also spelled as Lý.
Business
- Lee Choon Seng (; 1888âÂÂ1966), businessman, philanthropist, and former chairman of OCBC Bank
- Lee Kong Chian (; 1893âÂÂ1967), businessman, philanthropist, founder of the Lee Foundation, and co-founder and chairman of the OCBC Bank
- Li Ka-shing (; born 1928), Hong Kong billionaire businessman and philanthropist
- Lee Shau-kee (; born 1928), Hong Kong billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and founder of Henderson Land Development; father of Martin Lee
- Lie Mo Tie (; born 1929), Indonesian financial magnate and founder of Lippo Group; father of Li Bai
- Lee Hsien Yang (; born 1957), former CEO of Singtel and former chairman of Fraser and Neave; son of Lee Kuan Yew and brother of Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Wei Ling
- Li Bai (; born 1957), Chinese Indonesian businessman and chairman of Lippo Group; son of Lie Mo Tie
- Kai-Fu Lee (; born 1961), computer scientist, businessman, former president of Google China
- Li Ning (; born 1963), Chinese retired gymnast, biollionare entrepreneur, and founder of Li-Ning Company Limited
- Peter Lee (born 1963), lawyer and co-chairman of Henderson Land Development and Hong Kong and China Gas; son of Lee Shau-kee and brother of Martin Lee
- Victor Li (; born 1964), businessman, chairman of CK Asset Holdings, CK Hutchison Holdings, CK Life Sciences, and CK Infrastructure Holdings, and director of HSBC; son of Li Ka-shing and brother of Richard Li
- Richard Li (, born 1966), businessman, philanthropist, chairman of Hong Kong Telecom, and founder and chairman of Pacific Century Group; son of Li Ka-shing and brother of Victor Li
- Li Lu (; born 1966), businessman and former student protestor
- Martin Lee (; born 1971), co-chairman of Henderson Land Development and Hong Kong and China Gas; son of Lee Shau-kee and brother of Peter Lee
- Aiiso Yufeng Li (æÂÂé¨峰), Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of CorDx; advisor of UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering; Serves on the board of trustees at UC San Diego
Criminals
- Li Shikang (born 1955), Chinese serial killer
- Li Pingping (; 1960âÂÂ2004), executed Chinese serial killer
- Vincent Li (; born 1968), Chinese-Canadian man who brutally murdered fellow Greyhound bus passenger Tim McLean
- Li Guangjun (born 1969), Chinese serial killer and rapist on death row
- Li Hao (; 1977âÂÂ2014), executed Chinese murderer and rapist
- Li Yijiang (; 1980âÂÂ2004), executed Chinese serial killer
- Li Ang (; born c. 1985), student arrested for the murder of his girlfriend Amanda Zhao in 2002
- Li Xiangnan (; born c. 1991), student arrested for the murder of his girlfriend Shao Tong in 2014
Fictional characters
Film and television
- Li Han-hsiang (; 1926âÂÂ1996), Chinese film director
- Lie Tek Swie (; fl 1929âÂÂ1940), Indonesian film director active in the Dutch East Indies
- Bruce Lee (; 1940âÂÂ1973), Hong Kong American actor and martial artist; son of Lee Hoi-chuen, brother of Robert Lee and Peter Lee, and father of Brandon Lee and Shannon Lee
- China Lee (born 1942), Chinese American actress, model, and former Playboy Playmate
- Danny Lee Sau-Yin (; born 1952), Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, and presenter
- Ang Lee (; born 1954), Taiwanese filmmaker
- Li Yang (; born 1959), Chinese film writer and director
- Daniel Lee Yan-Kong (; born 1960), Hong Kong film director, screen
- Jet Li (; born 1963), Chinese-born Singaporean martial artist and actor
- Li Nanxing (; born 1964), Singaporean actor, businessman, and filmmaker
- Brandon Lee (; 1965âÂÂ1993), Chinese American actor and martial artist; son of Bruce Lee and brother of Shannon Lee
- Mark Lee Kok Huang (; born 1968), Singaporean comedian, actor, host and businessman
- Li Yong (; 1968âÂÂ2018), Chinese television host
- Shannon Lee (; born 1969), Chinese American actress and businesswoman; daughter of Bruce Lee and sister of Brandon Lee
- Sandra Lee (born 1970), American dermatologist and YouTube personality known for her show Dr. Pimple Popper
- Christopher Lee Meng Soon (; born 1971), Malaysian-Singaporean actor, host, and businessman
- Pui Fan Lee (born 1971), English actress and television presenter
- Ivy Lee (born 1973), Singaporean former actress and television host
- Li Yu (; born 1973), Chinese film director
- Li Bingbing (; born 1973), Chinese actress and singer
- Johnson Lee (; born 1974), Hong Kong-Canadian TVB actor
- Sam Lee (; born 1975), Hong Kong actor
- Angelica Lee (; born 1976), Malaysian Chinese film actress and pop singer
- Lee San-san (; born 1977), 1996 Miss Hong Kong Pageant winner
- Selena Lee (; born 1981), Hong Kong-born Chinese Canadian actress
- Sophia Li, Chinese American journalist and film director
- Ali Lee (; born 1982), Hong Konger actress and television host contracted to TVB
- Rain Lee (; born 1982), Hong Kong actress and singer
- Lee Teng (; born 1982), Singaporean actor
- Tsuyoshi Abe (; born Li Zhendong, 1982), Chinese-Japanese actor
- Charmaine Li (born 1983), Hongkonger actress, model, businesswoman, and spokesperson
- Zack Lee (born 1984), Indonesian British actor, model, and boxer
- Leanne Li (; born 1984), Chinese-Canadian actress, 2004 Miss Chinese Vancouver, and 2005 Miss Chinese International
- Levy Li (; born 1987), Miss Malaysia Universe 2008
- Aarif Lee (; born 1987), Hongkonger actor and singer
- Li Yitong (; born 1993), Chinese actress and singer
- Jessie Mei Li (born 1995), British actress
- Li Zehua (; born 1995), Chinese citizen journalist, rapper, and YouTuber
- Li Hongyi (; born 1998), Chinese actor and singer
- Li Landi (; born 1999), Chinese actress and model.
- Kristen Li (born 2002), American child actress, known for voicing Bubbles in the Powerpuff Girls reboot
Literature
- Li Bai (; 701âÂÂ762), poet during the Tang dynasty
- Li Shizhi (; died 747), poet and politician during the Tang dynasty; son of Li Chengqian
- Li Shangyin (; c. 813âÂÂ858), poet and politician during the late Tang dynasty
- Li Qingzhao (; 1084-c. 1155), writer and poet during the Song dynasty
- Li Yu (; 1611âÂÂ1680), author and dramatist
- Lie Kim Hok (; 1853âÂÂ1912), teacher, writer, and social worker in the Dutch East Indies
- Stan Lee (1922âÂÂ2018), birth name Stanley Martin Lieber, American comic book writer
- Li Kuei-hsien (; 1937âÂÂ2025), Taiwanese author, poet, cultural critic, translator, and inventor
- Li Ang (; born 1952), pen name of Shih Shu-tuan, Taiwanese feminist writer
- Grace Ly (born 1979), French writer and podcaster
- Jing-Jing Lee (; born 1985), author best known for her 2019 book How We Disappeared
Military
- Li Xin (; c. 200s BCE), Qin general during the Warring States period
- Li Guang (; 184âÂÂ119 BCE), Han dynasty general and part of the Longxi Commandery; descendent of Li Xin and great-great-grandfather of Li Ling
- Li Guangli (; died c. 88 BCE), Han dynasty general; brother of Li Yannian
- Li Ling (; died c. 74 BCE), Han dynasty general who defected to Xiongnu in 99 BCE; descendent of Li Xin and Li Guang
- Li Dian (; c. 180âÂÂ217 AD), Eastern Han dynasty military general under warlord Cao Cao
- Li Mu (; died 229 BCE), Zhao military general during the Warring States period
- Li Hui (; died 231 AD), Three Kingdoms military general and Shu Han state official under warlord Liu Bei
- Li Yan (; died c. 234 AD), Three Kingdoms military general in Shu Han
- Li Liu (; 248âÂÂ303 AD), military general and one of the spiritual founders of the Cheng-Han dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period; brother of Li Liu and uncle of Li Xiong
- Li Te (; died 303 AD), military general and one of the spiritual founders of the Cheng-Han dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period; brother of Li Liu and father of Li Xiong
- Li Jing (; 571âÂÂ649), Tang dynasty military general and writer
- Li Mi (; 582âÂÂ619), Sui dynasty military general, monarch, poet, and politician
- Li Shiji (; c. 594âÂÂ669 AD), Tang dynasty military general
- Li Jinzhong (; died 696), khan of the Khitan Kingdom
- Li Kaigu (), general under Emperor Wu Zetian; adopted son of Li Jinzhong and grandfather of Li Guangbi
- Li Guangbi (; 708âÂÂ764), Tang dynasty military general, monarch, and politician; grandson of Li Kaigu
- Li Mi (; 722âÂÂ789), military general and strategist during the Tang dynasty
- Li Zhengji (; 733âÂÂ781), military general during the Tang dynasty; father of Li Na
- Li Na (; 758âÂÂ792), military general and politician during the Tang dynasty; son of Li Zhengji and father of Li Shigu and Li Shidao
- Li Shigu (; 778âÂÂ806), military general and politician during the Tang dynasty; son of Li Na and brother of Li Shidao
- Li Shidao (; died 819), military general and politician during the Tang dynasty; son of Li Na and brother of Li Shigu
- Li Keyong (; 856âÂÂ908), Shatuo military general and politician and Prince of Jin; son of Li Guochang and father of Li Cunxu and Li Siyuan
- Li Siyuan (; 867âÂÂ933), military general of the Jin dynasty and second emperor of the Later Tang dynasty; adopted son of Li Keyong, adoptive brother of Li Cunxu, and father of Li Chonghou, Li Congke, and Li Conghou
- Li Cunxu (; 885âÂÂ926), ruling prince of the Former Jin dynasty and founding emperor of the Later Tang dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period; son of Li Keyong and adoptive brother of Li Siyuan
- Li Guochang (; died 887), Shatuo general during the Tang dynasty
- Li Rusong (; 1549âÂÂ1598), Ming dynasty military commander; son of Li Chengliang
- Li Chengliang (; 1526âÂÂ1615), Ming dynasty military general; father of Li Rusong
- Li Yingshi (; fl c. 1600), Chinese military officer, scientist, and astrologer during the Ming dynasty
- Li Hongzhang (; 1823âÂÂ1901), military general and diplomat during the Qing dynasty; uncle of Li Jingxi
- John Lie (; 1911âÂÂ1988), naval commander and National Hero of Indonesia
- Li Guidan (; 1913âÂÂ1938), Republic of China Air Force commanding officer of the Zhihang Fighter Group during the War of Resistance-World War II
- Li Han (; 1924âÂÂ1997), Chinese flying ace of the Korean War
Music
- Li Yannian (; died 90 BCE), musician during the Han dynasty
- Lee Hoi-chuen (; 1901âÂÂ1965), Cantonese opera singer and actor; father of Bruce Lee, Robert Lee, and Peter Lee
- Robert Lee (; born 1948), Hongkonger musician; son of Lee Hoi-chuen and brother of Bruce Lee and Peter Lee
- Dick Lee (; born 1956), Singaporean musician, playwright, and film director
- Hacken Lee (; born 1967), Hong Kong-based Cantopop singer, television host, and actor
- Sam Lee Sheng Jie (; born 1973), Hong Kong singer
- Coco Lee (; 1975âÂÂ2023), Hongkonger singer and actress
- Herman Li (; born 1976), guitarist from DragonForce
- Li Yundi (; born 1982), Chinese pianist
- Jess Lee, as in the following singers:
- Jess Lee (Canadian singer)
- Jess Lee (Malaysian singer) (; born 1988)
- Annette Lee (; born 1992), Singaporean singer and YouTube personality
- Li Wenhan (; born 1994), Chinese singer and actor, member of UNIQ and UNINE
- Li Yitong (singer) (, born 1995), Chinese idol singer, actress, and member of SNH48
- Li Zhenning (; born 1995), Chinese singer and actor, member of UNINE
Mythology
Politics and government
- Li Si (; c. 208âÂÂ280 BCE), Chancellor during the Qin dynasty, as well as a calligrapher and philosopher
- Li Bing (; died 572 AD), politician during the Northern Zhou dynasty; father of Li Yuan
- Li Jifu (; 758âÂÂ814 AD), cartographer, historian, and politician during the Tang dynasty; father of Li Deyu
- Li Deyu (; 787âÂÂ850 AD), poet, politician, and writer during the Tang dynasty; son of Li Jifu
- Li Jingxi (; 1857âÂÂ1925), former Premier of the Republic of China; nephew of Li Hongzhang
- Li Dazhao (; 1889âÂÂ1927), co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party
- Li Zongren (; 1890âÂÂ1969), Vice President of the Republic of China and briefly its acting President
- Li Xiannian (; 1909âÂÂ1992), former President of the People's Republic of China and Communist leader
- Li Tianmin (; 1909âÂÂ1993), Chinese Nationalist politician and political historian
- Lee Siew Choh (; 1917âÂÂ2002), Singaporean doctor and politician
- Lee Teng-hui (; 1923âÂÂ2020), former President of Taiwan
- Lee Kuan Yew (; 1923âÂÂ2015), first Prime Minister of Singapore; father of Lee Wei Ling, Lee Hsien Loong, and Lee Hsien Yang
- Li Peng (; 1928âÂÂ2019), former Premier of the People's Republic of China
- Li Ruihuan (; born 1934), retired Chinese politician and former Chinese Communist Party leader
- Li Lanqing (; born 1932), Former Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China
- Li Ao (; 1935âÂÂ2018), Taiwanese writer and former member of the Legislative Yuan
- Li Guixian (; born 1937), retired Chinese politician and former governor of the People's Bank of China
- Lee Chiaw Meng (; 1937âÂÂ2001), retired Singaporoean politician and civil servant
- Martin Lee (; born 1938), founder of the United Democrats of Hong Kong and Hong Kong's Democratic Party
- Sir David Li (; born 1939), politician, executive chairman of Bank of East Asia and pro-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong
- Lee Myung-bak (; born 1941), former President of South Korea
- Li Changchun (; born 1944), retired politician and former Chinese Communist Party leader
- Lee Yock Suan (; born 1946), former Singaporean politician
- Desmond Lee Ti-Seng (; born 1976), Singaporean politician and son of Yock Suan
- Lee Han-shen (; born 1947), former President of Taiwan Power Company
- Andrew Li (; born 1948), Hong Kong's first Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
- Lee Sush-der (; born 1951), former Minister of Finance of Taiwan
- Lee Hsien Loong (; born 1952), Prime Minister of Singapore since 2004; son of Lee Kuan Yew and brother of Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang
- Ed Lee (; 1952âÂÂ2017), American politician and lawyer
- Lee Shying-jow (; born 1952), Ambassador to Denmark of the Republic of China since 2019
- Lee Ying-yuan (; 1953âÂÂ2021), former Minister of Environmental Protection Administration in Taiwan
- Lee Yung-te (; born 1955), Chairman of the Central News Agency of Taiwan since 2023
- Li Keqiang (; 1955âÂÂ2023), economist and former Premier of the People's Republic of China
- Li Qiang (; born 1959), Premier of the People's Republic of China
- Li Xi (; born 1956), Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
- Li Yuanchao (; born 1950), former Vice President of the People's Republic of China
- Lee Chen-jan (; born c. 1956), Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan
- Lee Shu-chuan (; born 1958), Deputy Mayor of Taipei since 2022
- Lee Wo-shih (; born 1960), former Magistrate of Kinmen County
- Lee Jae Myung (; born 1963), current President of South Korea
- Lee Li-chen (; born c. 1968), Deputy Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China
- Lee Ying-ping (; born 1969), former Political Deputy Minister of Culture of Taiwan
- Li Guangdi (Chinese: æÂÂÃ¥Â
Âå°; PeÃÂh-Ã
Âe-jë: LàKong-tÃÂ; 1642âÂÂ1718), also known by his courtesy name Jinqing (Chinese: æÂÂå¿; PeÃÂh-Ã
Âe-jë: Chìn-kheng) and sobriquet Hou'an (Chinese: Ã¥ÂÂ庵; PeÃÂh-Ã
Âe-jë: HÃ
ÂÃÂ-am), was a Chinese neo-Confucianist court official during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty.
Religion
Royalty
- Li Yuan (; 566âÂÂ635 AD), the Emperor Gaozu of Tang, founder of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Bing and father of Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, Li Xuanba, and Li Yuanji
- Li Jiancheng (; 589âÂÂ626 AD), first crown prince of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Yuan and brother of Li Shimin, Li Xuanba, and Li Yuanji
- Li Shimin (; 598âÂÂ649 AD), emperor of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Yuan and brother of Li Jiancheng, Li Xuanba, and Li Yuanji; father of Li Ke, Li Tai, Li Chengqian, and Li Zhi
- Li Xuanba (; 599âÂÂ614 AD), son of Li Yuan and brother of Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, and Li Yuanji
- Li Yuanji (; 603âÂÂ626 AD), son of Li Yuan and brother of Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, and Li Xuanba
- Li Chengqian (; 618âÂÂ645 AD), crown prince of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Shimin, brother of Li Tai, Li Ke, and Li Zhi, and father of Li Shizhi
- Li Ke (; 619âÂÂ653 AD), imperial prince of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Shimin and brother of Li Tai, Li Chengqian, and Li Zhi
- Li Tai (; 620âÂÂ653), imperial prince of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Shimin and brother of Li Chengqian, Li Ke, and Li Zhi
- Li Zhi (; 628âÂÂ683 AD), third emperor of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Shimin and brother of Li Tai, Li Chengqian, and Li Ke
- Li Zhong (; 643âÂÂ665 AD), crown prince of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Zhi and brother of Li Hong, Li Xian, Li Xian, Li Dan, and Li Sujie
- Li Sujie (; 646âÂÂ690 or 692), imperial prince of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Zhi and brother of Li Hong, Li Xian, Li Xian, Li Dan, and Li Zhong
- Li Hong (; 652âÂÂ675 AD), crown prince of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Zhi and brother of Li Xian, Li Xian, Li Dan, Li Sujie, and Li Zhong
- Li Xian (; 655âÂÂ684), crown prince of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Zhi and brother of Li Hong, Li Xian, Li Dan, Li Sujie, and Li Zhong
- Li Xian (; 656âÂÂ710 AD), fourth and seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Zhi and brother of Li Hong, Li Xian, Li Dan, Li Sujie, and Li Zhong
- Li Dan (; 662âÂÂ716 AD), fifth and ninth emperor of the Tang dynasty; son of Li Zhi and brother of Li Hong, Li Xian, Li Xian, Li Sujie, and Li Zhong
- Li Congke (; 885âÂÂ937), final emperor of the Later Tang dynasty; adopted son of Li Siyuan and adoptive brother of Li Congrong and Li Conghou
- Li Conghou (; 914âÂÂ934), emperor of the Later Tang dynasty; son of Li Siyuan and brother of Li Congrong and Li Congke
- Li Congrong (; died 933), second emperor of the Later Tang dynasty; son of Li Siyuan and brother of Li Chonghou and Li Congke
- Li Yu (; 937âÂÂ978), third ruler of the Southern Tang state during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
- Li Zicheng (; 1606âÂÂ1645), peasant rebel leader who overthrew the Ming dynasty and the emperor of the Shun dynasty
Scholars, academics, and scientists
- Li Shizhen (; 1518âÂÂ1593), physician and pharmacologist during the Ming dynasty
- Yuk-Wing Lee (; 1904âÂÂ1989), electrical engineer and professor
- Choh Hao Li (; 1913âÂÂ1987), Chinese-born American biochemist and professor
- Li Pei (; 1917âÂÂ2017), Chinese linguist and professor of English
- Tsung-Dao Lee (; 1926âÂÂ2024), Chinese-American physicist, 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics winner, and professor emeritus
- Li Choh-ming (; 1912âÂÂ1991), Chinese-born American economist, educator, and vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Li Zehou (; 1930âÂÂ2021), Chinese scholar of philosophy and intellectual history
- Yuan T. Lee (; born 1936), Taiwanese-American chemist, 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, and professor emeritus
- Henry Chang-Yu Lee (; born 1938), Taiwanese-American forensic scientist
- Wen Ho Lee (; born 1939), Taiwanese-American nuclear scientist and mechanical engineer
- Peter Lee (; 1939âÂÂ2008), engineer and former director of the Hong Kong Observatory; son of Lee Hoi-chuen and brother of Robert Lee and Bruce Lee
- Arthur Li (; born 1945), surgeon and former Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Gary Yia Lee (born 1949), Laos-born Hmong anthropologist
- Fuk Li (; born 1953), Director of the Mars Exploration Directorate at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Victor Li (born c. 1953), Hong Kong-American civil engineer and professor
- Lee Wei Ling (; born 1955), neurologist and former director of the National Neuroscience Institute; daughter of Lee Kuan Yew and sister of Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Hsien Yang
- Heidi Li Feldman (born c. 1962), American law professor
- Song Li (; born c. 1966), Chinese-American bioengineer and professor
- Yueh-Ting Lee (; born c. 1970s), social and evolutionary psychologist and professor
- Guofang Li (born 1972), Chinese-Canadian professor of education
- Runze Li (born c. 1970s), American statistician and professor
- Li Wenliang (; 1986âÂÂ2020), Chinese ophthalmologist who warned about the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019
- Li Xinchuan (; 1167âÂÂ1244), Song dynasty historian
Sport
- Li Cunxin (; born 1961), Chinese-Australian artistic director of the Queensland Ballet and retired ballet dancer
- Li Huirong (; born 1965), Chinese retired triple jumper
- Lee Lai Shan (; born 1970), Hong Kong former windsurfer and Olympian
- Li Tie (; born 1977), Chinese football manager and former footballer
- Li Na (; born 1982), Chinese former tennis player and Olympian
- Lee Chong Wei (; born 1982), Malaysian former badminton player and 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympian
- Li Zhe (; born 1986), Chinese tennis player
- Li Xiaoxia (; born 1988), Chinese table tennis player and former 2012 and 2016 Olympian gold medalist
- Haku Ri (; born 1990), Japanese volleyball player
- Li Hang (; born 1990), Chinese former professional snooker player
- Isabelle Li (born 1994), Singaporean table tennis player
- Lee Chih-kai (; born 1996), Taiwanese gymnast and Olympian
- Lee Zii Jia (; born 1998), Malaysian badminton player and 2024 Olympian
- Li Yueru (; born 1999), Chinese professional basketball player
- Kerong Li (; born 2001), Chinese racing driver
- Li Cai-xuan (born 2004), Taiwanese archer
Visual art
- Li Yin (; c. 1610âÂÂ1685), Chinese painter, poet, and calligrapher during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties
- Li Hua (; 1907âÂÂ1994), artist and communist activist
Other
References