Lesley
Lesley is a boy's name of Scottish origin.
Meaning
Garden of holly trees or court by the holly trees.
Origin and history
Lesley is a name of Scottish origin derived from a place name in Aberdeenshire, traditionally interpreted as meaning 'garden of holly trees' or 'court of the holly trees'. While historically used for both males and females, the 'Lesley' spelling became more common for girls in the 20th century, whereas 'Leslie' remained the traditional male spelling. In the United States, male usage of Lesley was historically present but has become exceptionally rare in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
4,797 babies in the United States have been named Lesley since 1880. It ranks #1775 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- TX (45.3 %)
- CA (9.3 %)
- OK (7.3 %)
- AL (4.3 %)
- TN (3.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 11 |
| 1890-1900 | 18 |
| 1900-1910 | 74 |
| 1910-1920 | 260 |
| 1920-1930 | 459 |
| 1930-1940 | 363 |
| 1940-1950 | 630 |
| 1950-1960 | 809 |
| 1960-1970 | 848 |
| 1970-1980 | 628 |
| 1980-1990 | 376 |
| 1990-2000 | 193 |
| 2000-2010 | 100 |
| 2010-2019 | 28 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Lesley
- Lesley King: Musician, Drummer
Nicknames
Les
Fun facts
- The name originally stems from the clan name and lands of Leslie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
- Traditionally, 'Leslie' was preferred for males and 'Lesley' for females, though both spellings have been applied across genders.