Lester
Lester is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
From Leicester, meaning 'camp on the River Soar'.
Origin and history
Lester originated as an English surname derived from the place name Leicester, which means 'camp of the dwellers on the River Soar'. It gained popularity as a given name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. Although its modern usage has declined significantly, it remains a classic traditional name.
Popularity in the United States
130,688 babies in the United States have been named Lester since 1880. It ranks #255 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1341.
States where it is most popular
- PA (7.2 %)
- NY (6.4 %)
- IL (5.9 %)
- TX (5.3 %)
- OH (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,440 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,702 |
| 1900-1910 | 4,361 |
| 1910-1920 | 21,509 |
| 1920-1930 | 26,513 |
| 1930-1940 | 16,984 |
| 1940-1950 | 17,082 |
| 1950-1960 | 16,568 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,741 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,110 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,570 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,080 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,373 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,045 |
| 2020-2029 | 610 |
Famous people named Lester
- Lester Young: Jazz musician, Saxophonist
- Lester Holt: Journalist, News anchor
- Lester Pearson: Prime Minister, Diplomat
Nicknames
Les
Fun facts
- Lester was a consistently popular name in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, frequently ranking in the top 100 baby names.
- The name originally denoted someone from the English city of Leicester, which dates back to Roman Britain.