Les Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LEZ //lɛz//
Origin: French; English
Meaning: French: 'the'; English: diminutive of Leslie
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Les is derived from the name Leslie, which has its roots in Scotland. The etymology of Leslie can be traced back to the Gaelic elements "leas," meaning "garden," and "aig," meaning "by the water," suggesting a geographical origin related to a garden near water.
The name Leslie was originally a surname, derived from a place name in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and it entered the English language through the adoption of surnames as given names during the 19th century. The transition from Leslie to Les as a diminutive form reflects a common linguistic practice of shortening names for ease of use.
Historically, the name Leslie gained prominence through notable figures, including the Scottish noble family of Leslie, which dates back to the 12th century. The family produced several prominent individuals, including John Leslie, a Scottish bishop and historian in the 16th century, and Robert Leslie, who served as a general in the British Army during the 17th century.
The name also appears in various literary works and historical texts, contributing to its recognition in English-speaking cultures. Culturally, the name Les and its variants have been associated with qualities such as strength and resilience, often linked to the noble heritage of the Leslie family.
The name has been used in various forms of media and literature, further embedding it in cultural consciousness. The diminutive Les serves as a familiar and approachable form of Leslie, maintaining the name's historical significance while adapting to contemporary usage.
Overall, the name Les carries with it a rich tapestry of historical and cultural associations that reflect its Scottish origins and noble lineage.
Famous people named Les
In this section, you will find notable people named Les. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Les who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Les who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Les Paul is a guitarist and inventor best known for creating the solid-body electric guitar and his work with the Les Paul model guitar.
Les Claypool is a musician best known as the bassist and lead vocalist of Primus and for his work with Oysterhead.
Fictional characters named Les
The following list of fictional characters named Les is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Les is a fictional character from the novel and film The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He is a close friend of the protagonist, Charlie, and plays a significant role in supporting him through his struggles.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Les, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Les. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Les was first seen in the United States in 1900.
Les has ranked as high as #1308 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Washington, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Les has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Les is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Les was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Les.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2024 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2018 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2016 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2013 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2008 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2007 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2006 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2004 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2003 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2000 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1998 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1992 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1991 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1990 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1989 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1988 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1987 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1986 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1985 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1984 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1983 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1982 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1981 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1980 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1979 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1978 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1977 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 1976 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1975 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1974 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1973 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1972 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1971 | 48 | 48 | 0 |
| 1970 | 54 | 54 | 0 |
| 1969 | 57 | 57 | 0 |
| 1968 | 63 | 63 | 0 |
| 1967 | 71 | 71 | 0 |
| 1966 | 83 | 83 | 0 |
| 1965 | 92 | 92 | 0 |
| 1964 | 105 | 105 | 0 |
| 1963 | 121 | 121 | 0 |
| 1962 | 126 | 126 | 0 |
| 1961 | 188 | 182 | 6 |
| 1960 | 172 | 172 | 0 |
| 1959 | 165 | 160 | 5 |
| 1958 | 173 | 162 | 11 |
| 1957 | 126 | 126 | 0 |
| 1956 | 112 | 112 | 0 |
| 1955 | 64 | 59 | 5 |
| 1954 | 46 | 41 | 5 |
| 1953 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 1952 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1951 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 1950 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1949 | 49 | 49 | 0 |
| 1948 | 70 | 70 | 0 |
| 1947 | 91 | 91 | 0 |
| 1946 | 74 | 74 | 0 |
| 1945 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
| 1944 | 54 | 54 | 0 |
| 1943 | 61 | 61 | 0 |
| 1942 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 1941 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1940 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| 1939 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1938 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1937 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1936 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1935 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1934 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1933 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1932 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1931 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1930 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1928 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1926 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1925 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1923 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1922 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1921 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1920 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1918 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1917 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1914 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1913 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1900 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Les (1989)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |