Leslie
Leslie Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ˈlɛz.li/
Meaning of Leslie: The name Leslie derives from a Scottish place name - Leslie in Aberdeenshire, possibly meaning garden of hollies or the gray fort. According to Etymonline, the Leslie clan took their name from the Aberdeenshire estate, documented in Scottish records since the 12th century. The transition from place to surname to given name followed the standard Anglo-American pattern of adopting notable Scottish surnames as first names.
Leslie functioned as a masculine given name in Scotland and England throughout the 19th century, appearing regularly in British census records through the early 20th century. In the United States, the name began its transition toward feminine use in the mid-20th century, particularly after actress Leslie Caron's success in Hollywood films of the 1950s and the growing American pattern of repurposing gender-neutral names as primarily feminine choices.
By the 1960s and 1970s, Leslie had shifted in the US to function predominantly as a girl's name. The shift was driven partly by the -ie and -ey endings that American naming culture associated with feminine names during that period, creating a self-reinforcing cycle that made Leslie feel increasingly feminine over subsequent decades.
What Does Leslie Mean? Origin & Etymology
According to SSA records, Leslie ranked #605 for girls in 2024, with 495 births recorded. The name held top-100 positions for girls from roughly the 1960s through the early 1990s before declining, and its 2024 position reflects stable persistence rather than trend revival.
Leslie offers no natural nickname shorter than its 2 syllables. Britannica's entry on Scotland provides context for the Scottish place name tradition that produced Leslie and dozens of other clan surnames adopted into American given name use.
How Popular Is Leslie?
Numerology & Symbolism of Leslie
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Leslie – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Leslie
What does the name Leslie mean?
The name Leslie derives from Old English roots, reflecting the Anglo-Saxon naming tradition that predates the Norman Conquest. Names of this origin typically referenced personal qualities, natural features, or family lineage meaningful to early English-speaking communities.
How popular is the name Leslie in the United States?
According to SSA records, Leslie ranked #605 for girl names in the United States, with 495 births recorded in the most recent annual count. The name hit its highest SSA rank in 2024. It has held a consistent place in US naming statistics across multiple decades.
Where does the name Leslie come from?
The name Leslie comes from English. It entered English use through the linguistic and cultural channels typical of English-origin names—whether through religious texts, migration, or the prestige associated with classical learning. Today it is recognized as a girl’s name across the English-speaking world.