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Leslie as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Leslie

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The baby name Leslie is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈlɛzli/ (LEZ-lee); alternate /ˈlɛsli/ (LESS-lee).

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 2.0
Pronunciation: /ˈlɛzli/ (LEZ-lee); alternate /ˈlɛsli/ (LESS-lee)

What is the meaning of the name Leslie ?

The baby name Leslie is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈlɛzli/ (LEZ-lee); alternate /ˈlɛsli/ (LESS-lee).

Leslie is in Origin.

Leslie is a Scottish surname-turned-given name from the placename Leslie in Aberdeenshire, recorded as Lesselyn in the 12th century. The toponym is widely explained from Scottish Gaelic lios cuilinn, meaning “holly garden” or “enclosure of holly.” As a clan name (Clan Leslie, motto “Grip Fast”), it entered broader usage across Scotland and then the English-speaking world.

As a first name, Leslie appeared in the 19th century, used chiefly for boys in Scotland and England, then became strongly unisex; in the United States it shifted largely feminine by the mid-20th century, with popularity peaks in the 1960s–80s. Common variants include Lesley (especially feminine in Britain), Leslee, Lesli, and Lesly; short forms include Les. The name’s enduring appeal lies in its nature-derived meaning and gentle sound, balancing a distinguished Scottish heritage with modern, gender-neutral usage.

Leslie has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Leslie

Feist Actor · Born 1976 · Canada Feist usually refers to Leslie Feist, the Canadian singer-songwriter best known for indie pop songs like “1234,” “Mushaboom,” and “My Moon My Man.” She performs under the name Feist and became widely recognized for her distinctive voice and solo music career. Han Ye-seul Actor · Born 1981 · United States Han Ye-seul is a South Korean actress best known for her leading roles in popular TV dramas. She debuted in the sitcom Nonstop 4 and later starred in well-known projects like Couple or Trouble, Tazza, and Birth of a Beauty, as well as films such as Miss Gold Digger and Penny Pinchers. Les McCann Musician · Born 1935 · United States Leslie Coleman McCann was an American jazz pianist and vocalist best known for helping shape soul jazz and for his 1969 recording of the protest song "Compared to What." He built a long, influential career in jazz and became especially associated with expressive, groove-driven performances.

Celebrity babies named Leslie

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Leslie Bogart Lauren Bacall television actor ★★★★★
Leslie Carol Shatner Gloria Rand television actor William Shatner television actor ★★★★★
Leslie Ruth Howard Leslie Howard film director ★★★★★

Leslie – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2003 #1 — 569
Ireland Girls 2001 #1 — 649
FJ Boys 0 #17 1 603
BW 0 #19 1 960
HN 0 #21 2 704
HT Girls 0 #23 1 950
KR Boys 0 #27 1 897
BN 0 #30 3 2,297
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
HN Girls 0 #38 1 884
MT 0 #41 3 1,767
BI Boys 0 #43 2 917
PR 0 #43 13 1,497
CM 0 #49 8 2,592
MO 0 #51 2 2,706
PH 0 #54 43 5,607
LU 0 #62 5 2,830
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
JP 0 #73 5 4,057
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
CN 0 #76 10 3,857
MV Boys 0 #79 1 3,375
TW 0 #80 21 4,523
JM 0 #86 8 3,714
QA 0 #100 7 7,011
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
PR Girls 0 #109 54 3,171
BN Girls 0 #111 4 5,459
BW Boys 0 #112 38 4,685
OM 0 #113 9 6,215
PA 0 #113 18 3,797
HU 0 #114 2 1,675
KW 0 #116 6 5,216
EC 0 #118 4 2,502
CR 0 #128 31 5,526
CY Boys 0 #128 4 3,473
BN Boys 0 #131 9 6,332
Switzerland Girls 2024 #133 3 1,786
IQ 0 #133 1 3,533
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
MU 0 #137 1 3,613
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
BW Girls 0 #148 4 4,216
MT Girls 0 #151 3 3,773
HU Boys 0 #155 20 3,954
MT Boys 0 #156 21 4,064
AE 0 #160 18 10,220
SG 0 #168 105 11,010
LU Girls 0 #170 16 4,850
MX 0 #170 307 8,339
PR Boys 0 #170 9 2,508
Sweden Boys 2020 #174 4 1,548
Sweden Girls 2022 #176 4 1,568
UY 0 #181 2 2,477
PE 0 #182 135 6,350
JM Boys 0 #183 92 6,876
PH Girls 0 #185 233 13,098
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
EC Girls 0 #187 53 3,650
CL Girls 0 #188 2,324 14,098
AR 0 #190 4 2,915
RU 0 #191 4 3,641
Belgium Girls 2001 #192 21 420
CL 0 #192 288 6,867
PE Girls 0 #192 2,598 14,861
MO Boys 0 #196 28 5,842
CM Girls 0 #197 519 11,671
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
GT Girls 0 #202 415 7,500
DK 0 #204 3 5,198
MX Girls 0 #206 4,857 17,781
PS 0 #207 12 5,692
TW Boys 0 #211 31 7,111
CN Boys 0 #212 111 9,639
AO Girls 0 #217 1 4,575
NA Boys 0 #222 14 6,830
MO Girls 0 #227 25 7,056
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
GH 0 #234 10 5,396
NA Girls 0 #234 4 7,146
TW Girls 0 #234 43 8,139
JP Girls 0 #236 10 6,592
EC Boys 0 #245 2 3,322
NG 0 #253 12 5,926
GH Boys 0 #257 90 8,138
Canada Girls 2024 #258 28 2,795
HR Boys 0 #259 1 3,997
IL 0 #260 15 6,291
QA Girls 0 #269 48 15,378
JM Girls 0 #271 8 7,507
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
SA 0 #275 21 10,560
GT 0 #277 38 5,948
HK 0 #281 68 8,483
MY 0 #284 47 12,352
CN Girls 0 #288 62 8,829
Canada Boys 2024 #295 12 2,588
JP Boys 0 #295 9 7,909
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
HK Boys 0 #297 287 12,905
PA Girls 0 #300 190 9,861
CZ Boys 0 #305 1 6,530
SG Boys 0 #305 503 17,960
CR Girls 0 #312 243 11,342
DK Boys 0 #325 8 7,401
DK Girls 0 #326 4 7,429
GH Girls 0 #333 5 6,973
JO Girls 0 #337 3 7,570
PL Boys 0 #338 3 6,459
CZ Girls 0 #350 2 5,378
BO 0 #354 28 6,868
OM Girls 0 #354 43 15,987
ZA 0 #354 94 14,421
PH Boys 0 #356 28 11,440
BR 0 #358 3 5,969
MU Girls 0 #358 5 8,539
MU Boys 0 #368 2 8,477
NL 0 #370 22 2,481
France Girls 2021 #371 35 3,185
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
France Boys 2002 #391 3 2,423
BO Girls 0 #398 228 9,488
KW Girls 0 #404 112 19,177
UY Boys 0 #405 9 5,922
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
CO 0 #408 73 7,768
Austria Girls 0 #410 11 1,885
EG 0 #411 2 6,387
CR Boys 0 #412 76 10,188
Germany 0 #415 23 2,542
PA Boys 0 #424 58 9,305
Spain 0 #429 24 2,326
PT Girls 0 #439 13 7,952
AE Girls 0 #441 113 20,968
UY Girls 0 #442 69 6,731
SD Boys 0 #465 2 10,523
CM Boys 0 #474 77 12,054
ZA Boys 0 #475 1,154 25,619
United States Girls 2024 #479 495 8,487
AR Boys 0 #479 5 7,628
RU Girls 0 #481 18 11,913
PS Girls 0 #489 35 10,981
GT Boys 0 #497 3 7,625
SG Girls 0 #509 78 18,916
BH 0 #510 44 17,937
IQ Girls 0 #523 3 11,303
HK Girls 0 #524 92 16,104
RU Boys 0 #524 3 12,621
CO Girls 0 #532 803 16,140
IR Girls 0 #544 2 8,334
AR Girls 0 #550 50 8,289
PS Boys 0 #556 6 10,655
LY 0 #558 2 12,703
MY Boys 0 #559 648 25,439
IR Boys 0 #564 2 10,162
IL Girls 0 #576 42 11,648
BO Boys 0 #582 11 9,244
BD Boys 0 #603 3 10,045
IL Boys 0 #619 7 10,983
CL Boys 0 #629 37 13,390
LB 0 #647 12 13,263
IT 0 #649 66 4,183
IN Girls 0 #651 4 13,121
Finland Boys 2026 #673 10 3,552
QA Boys 0 #684 24 18,093
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
Germany Girls 0 #707 133 4,949
Finland Girls 2026 #730 9 3,895
KW Boys 0 #734 36 18,755
NL Boys 0 #740 213 5,873
Spain Girls 0 #757 228 5,561
SA Girls 0 #757 179 25,931
NG Girls 0 #764 23 15,093
SY 0 #767 1 11,684
BR Boys 0 #779 7 12,213
NL Girls 0 #793 163 5,933
OM Boys 0 #839 43 17,948
NG Boys 0 #842 110 16,906
PE Boys 0 #844 35 14,506
United States Boys 2024 #852 41 7,044
TN 0 #858 8 13,765
BR Girls 0 #898 44 12,708
Spain Boys 0 #900 31 5,610
CO Boys 0 #902 19 15,656
EG Boys 0 #917 9 15,035
Germany Boys 0 #919 34 5,697
MX Boys 0 #927 56 16,355
MY Girls 0 #933 62 24,821
ZA Girls 0 #952 190 25,928
EG Girls 0 #1,002 8 14,742
AE Boys 0 #1,008 85 22,615
IN Boys 0 #1,031 9 16,750
IT Girls 0 #1,090 365 9,415
MA 0 #1,111 18 20,986
DZ 0 #1,162 15 20,130
TR 0 #1,195 17 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,380 92 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,563 52 28,008

Leslie is popular in 86 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Canada
Ireland
United States
Switzerland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Leslie

Leslie is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Leslie is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈlɛzli/ (LEZ-lee); alternate /ˈlɛsli/ (LESS-lee).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Lesley, Lesli, Leslee, Lesleigh, Lessie and Les.
Across languages, Leslie has these equivalents: Holly (English, same meaning), Cuilinn (Gaelic element meaning 'holly').
Yes, very popular — Leslie ranked #1 in Ireland in 2003, and appears in official birth registries across 9 countries.
Leslie ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2003).
Yes — 3 notable people named Leslie are in our database, including Feist (Actor), Han Ye-seul (Actor), Les McCann (Musician).
Yes — at least 3 celebrity couples have chosen Leslie for their child, including Lauren Bacall.