Lesley first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Lesley has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Lesley

A feminine variant of the masculine name Leslie, ultimately from a Norman French place name.

Popularity of Lesley by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Lesley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 95% of people named Lesley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 29 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Lesley.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 29
2022 0 50
2021 0 39
2020 0 51
2019 0 51
2018 0 62
2017 0 52
2016 8 76
2015 6 96
2014 0 113
2013 0 120
2012 0 131
2011 7 175
2010 7 219
2009 10 223
2008 5 254
2007 7 352
2006 12 371
2005 8 382
2004 9 451
2003 12 452
2002 11 471
2001 9 509
2000 17 658
1999 21 682
1998 15 695
1997 15 626
1996 15 591
1995 10 276
1994 20 288
1993 22 314
1992 19 354
1991 30 372
1990 26 440
1989 27 394
1988 23 480
1987 24 472
1986 40 520
1985 26 566
1984 41 606
1983 42 734
1982 40 833
1981 60 869
1980 53 928
1979 42 913
1978 46 842
1977 83 848
1976 57 752
1975 56 714
1974 59 783

The history of the first name Lesley

Lesley is an English given name with origins tracing back to the medieval era. It is a diminutive form of the name Leslie, derived from an Anglo-French surname meaning "garden of the lily" or "grey garden". The name's roots can be traced to the Norman-French words "l'islet" (the little island) or "gris" (grey) and "leys" (garden or meadow).

The name was initially used as a Scottish surname, with the first recorded instance dating back to the 12th century. In 1195, a charter granted by King William the Lion of Scotland mentions "Leslies" as a family name. Over time, the surname evolved into a given name, particularly popular in Scotland and England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Lesley was Sir Andrew Lesley, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Another notable figure was Alexander Lesley, a Scottish theologian and mathematician who lived from 1572 to 1661.

In literature, the name appears in the works of Sir Walter Scott, who featured the character Lesley Baillie in his novel "The Bride of Lammermoor" (1819). This helped popularize the name in the 19th century.

Other historical figures with the name Lesley include:

  1. Lesley Ridley (1905-1979), a British aviator and test pilot.
  2. Lesley Blanch (1904-2007), an English writer and traveler.
  3. Lesley Stahl (born 1941), an American journalist and correspondent for CBS News.
  4. Lesley Gore (1946-2015), an American singer-songwriter best known for her hit "It's My Party".
  5. Lesley Manville (born 1956), an English actress renowned for her performances in films like "Phantom Thread" and "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris".

The name Lesley has been used across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its enduring appeal and versatility. Its rich history and origins contribute to its unique character and lasting popularity.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Lesley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Lesley, please contact us.

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"Lesley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 3, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/lesley-meaning-and-history/.

"Lesley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/lesley-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 3 November, 2024

Lesley first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/lesley-meaning-and-history/.

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