Leslie
Leslie is a girl's name of Scottish origin.
Meaning
Garden of hollies, or low-lying meadow.
Origin and history
Leslie originates from a Scottish surname and place name, historically associated with Clan Leslie in Aberdeenshire. Although originally used primarily for males, it became a widely popular feminine given name in the United States during the twentieth century. It continues to be used as a classic unisex option, though it remains more common for females in the U.S.
Popularity in the United States
270,429 babies in the United States have been named Leslie since 1880. It ranks #149 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #625.
States where it is most popular
- CA (16.3 %)
- TX (10.1 %)
- NY (7.2 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
- OH (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 126 |
| 1890-1900 | 257 |
| 1900-1910 | 324 |
| 1910-1920 | 785 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,241 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,447 |
| 1940-1950 | 14,856 |
| 1950-1960 | 43,049 |
| 1960-1970 | 54,453 |
| 1970-1980 | 44,839 |
| 1980-1990 | 38,729 |
| 1990-2000 | 26,769 |
| 2000-2010 | 31,055 |
| 2010-2019 | 9,752 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,747 |
Famous people named Leslie
- Leslie Mann: Actress, Comedian
- Leslie Jones: Comedian, Actress
- Leslie Bibb: Actress, Model
Nicknames
Les, Lessie
Fun facts
- The name stems from a Scottish lowland clan settled in Aberdeenshire since the twelfth century.
- Originally a traditional male name, Leslie rose rapidly as a female name in the mid-1900s in the United States.