Les
Les is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Garden of holly (from Leslie) or camp of the legion (from Lester).
Origin and history
Les is a short form of Leslie or Lester, originating as a Scottish habitational surname derived from Lesslyn in Aberdeenshire. In the United States, it is occasionally used as a standalone given name, though it remains relatively rare. It offers a classic, mid-century casual style.
Popularity in the United States
3,448 babies in the United States have been named Les since 1880. It ranks #2177 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1882.
States where it is most popular
- CA (34.2 %)
- TX (12.1 %)
- NY (9.4 %)
- WA (8.8 %)
- IL (8.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 34 |
| 1920-1930 | 71 |
| 1930-1940 | 152 |
| 1940-1950 | 549 |
| 1950-1960 | 790 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,072 |
| 1970-1980 | 307 |
| 1980-1990 | 183 |
| 1990-2000 | 75 |
| 2000-2010 | 70 |
| 2010-2019 | 95 |
| 2020-2029 | 45 |
Famous people named Les
- Les Paul: Musician, Inventor
- Les Claypool: Musician, Singer
- Les Miles: American Football Coach
Fun facts
- Les developed historically as a nickname for both Leslie and Lester before being registered as an independent given name.
- The name saw its highest relative usage in the United States during the mid-20th century.