Lesley
Leslie is a surname and given name, derived from the name of Clan Leslie. The name may also be spelled Lesley. The name derives from a placename in Aberdeenshire, perhaps an anglicisation of an originally Gaelic leas celyn "holly-garden". In the United Kingdom, the name is spelled Leslie when given to boys, while for girls it is usually rendered as Lesley.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Lesley
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Leslie is a surname and given name, derived from the name of Clan Leslie. The name may also be spelled Lesley. The name derives from a placename in Aberdeenshire, perhaps an anglicisation of an originally Gaelic leas celyn "holly-garden". In the United Kingdom, the name is spelled Leslie when given to boys, while for girls it is usually rendered as Lesley.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Lesley
As a girl name
American parents first put Lesley on the record books as a girl name in 1893, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1980, when 928 Lesleys were born — ranking #269 that year. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 22% of all recorded Lesleys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #4,481 among girl names with 31 births, falling sharply (-29%). In total, more than 34K Lesleys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Lesley as a boy name dates back to 1882, when 6 babies received it. 1958 was its biggest year on record, with 102 newborns named Lesley — #733 in the national rankings. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2016 (8 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 5K Lesleys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Lesley
Phonetically similar names — useful when Lesley is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lesley
What does the name Lesley mean?
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How popular is Lesley in 2026?
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Is Lesley a unisex name?
What names go well with Lesley?
About the name Lesley
Lesley is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1893 and has accumulated 34K births in the dataset. Lesley's peak popularity came in 1980 when it ranked #267. Use the chart and map above to compare Lesley's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1980 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.