Bentlee

Bentlee is a newer spelling of Bentley, an English place-name surname. The older name combines a word for bent grass with one for a woodland clearing or meadow. This gives it a landscape origin: the description originally identified a place where a particular kind of grass grew, before becoming a family name and then a first name.

Bentley’s association with the car maker adds another familiar reference, although the company does not account for the surname’s original meaning. Bentlee keeps the usual English sound while changing the written ending. Bentley and Bentleigh are useful comparisons for families deciding which form they prefer. The choice of -lee does not change the underlying history or restrict the name to one gender.