Leslie
Leslie is a Scottish name derived from a place name meaning 'garden of hollies' or 'gray fortress.' Originally a surname from Aberdeenshire, it became a popular given name for both boys and girls, though it was traditionally male.
Current Popularity
#3563 for boys
in the United States (2025)
Popularity over time
Good to Know
- •Now more commonly used for girls in the US, but remains a distinguished male name
- •Easy to spell and pronounce
- •Has a refined, vintage charm with Scottish heritage
- •The spelling 'Leslie' is traditional for males, while 'Lesley' is often used for females
- •Multiple spelling variations exist
Similar Names
Famous People
Leslie Howard
Actor (Gone with the Wind)
Leslie Cheung
Hong Kong actor and singer
Leslie Nielsen
Actor and comedian
Les Paul
Musician and inventor (born Lester, nicknamed Les)
Statistics
112,989
Total births since 1880
1952
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.