Lesane
A name of uncertain origin, potentially from the Tswana language.
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Lesane. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Lesane today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lesane births was 2003 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lesane. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Lesane. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
2003
8 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2018 SSA rank
#13,355
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Lesane: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lesane from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 8 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Lesane remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lesane by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Lesane during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lesane
The name Lesane has its origins in the Xhosa language, which is one of the official languages of South Africa. It is believed to have been derived from the Xhosa word "lesana," meaning "a young calf" or "a young animal." This etymology suggests that the name was likely given to children as a term of endearment, reflecting the innocence and vulnerability of a newborn.
Historically, the Xhosa people have been an influential ethnic group in South Africa, with a rich cultural heritage that dates back centuries. Their language, Xhosa, is part of the Nguni language family, which also includes Zulu and Swati. The Xhosa people have played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence and the fight against apartheid.
While the name Lesane does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its usage can be traced back to the 19th century. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is Lesane Crampton, a South African politician who lived from 1856 to 1927 and was a prominent figure in the Cape Colony's parliament.
Another notable figure with the name Lesane is Lesane Tshabalala-Msimang, a South African politician who served as the Minister of Health from 1999 to 2008. She was born in 1936 and played a crucial role in shaping the country's healthcare policies during her tenure.
In the realm of music, Lesane Parish Crampton was a prominent South African composer and musician who lived from 1873 to 1935. He composed numerous works that reflected the cultural heritage of the Xhosa people and helped preserve their musical traditions.
Moving forward in history, Lesane Tshabalala was a South African football player who played as a midfielder for various clubs, including Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, between the 1960s and 1970s. His contributions to the sport earned him recognition as one of the country's most talented and influential players.
Finally, Lesane Nare-Motsiri was a South African politician and activist who fought for women's rights and equality. Born in 1945, she played a pivotal role in the anti-apartheid movement and served as a member of the National Assembly of South Africa from 1994 to 2009.
While these are just a few examples, the name Lesane has been carried by various individuals throughout history, each contributing to the rich tapestry of South African culture and society in their own way.
People
Lesane + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lesane as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lesane: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lesane?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lesane going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Lesane a common name?
We classify Lesane as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lesane most popular?
The single biggest year for Lesane was 2003, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lesane is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Lesane in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Lesane a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lesane in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Lesane still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Lesane in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Lesane can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Lesane as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.