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

Popularity of Leslie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Leslie is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 92% of people named Leslie being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 439 female babies and 40 male babies born with the name Leslie.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 40 baby boys were named Leslie in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Leslie

The name Leslie has its origins in the ancient Germanic language, derived from the combination of the elements "lesc," meaning "meadow," and "rid," meaning "rider." It first emerged in Scotland during the 12th century as a Scottish surname, likely referring to a person who lived near or tended to a meadow.

In its earliest recorded use as a given name, Leslie was predominantly a masculine name. One of the earliest known bearers was Leslie of Balquhain, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 13th century and served as a knight under King Alexander III of Scotland.

As time passed, the name Leslie gained popularity among the Scottish aristocracy and gentry. Notable historical figures with this name include Sir Andrew Leslie (1580-1644), a Scottish military commander who played a significant role in the Thirty Years' War, and Alexander Leslie (1580-1661), a Scottish soldier and military commander who fought for the Covenanters during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

While Leslie remained primarily a Scottish name for several centuries, it eventually spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. One of the earliest recorded examples of Leslie as a feminine name is Lady Leslie Rayner (1854-1935), an English author and philanthropist.

Other notable individuals named Leslie throughout history include Leslie Howard (1893-1943), an English actor and director best known for his role in the film "Gone with the Wind," and Leslie Charteris (1907-1993), an American author and creator of the famous character "The Saint."

As the name gained popularity in the 20th century, it continued to be used for both males and females, though it became more commonly associated with women. Leslie Nielsen (1926-2010), a Canadian actor and comedian known for his roles in comedy films like "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun" series, is one of the more prominent male bearers of the name in recent history.

Throughout its long history, the name Leslie has maintained a strong connection to its Scottish roots, while also transcending cultural boundaries and becoming a widely recognized and beloved name across various regions and ethnicities.

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 Leslie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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