Lesli Girl

Popularity: #935 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LEZ-lee //ˈlɛzli//

Origin: English; Scottish

Meaning: English: God is my oath; Scottish: from the meadow

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Lesli is derived from the Scottish surname Leslie, which has its roots in the Gaelic place name "Leas Celyn," meaning "garden of hollies." The surname Leslie can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was associated with a prominent family in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The transition from a surname to a given name occurred in the 20th century, particularly as surnames began to be used as first names in various cultures, including English-speaking countries.

Historically, the Leslie family gained prominence through figures such as Andrew Leslie, a Scottish nobleman who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence during the 14th century. The name is also linked to various Scottish clans and has been borne by notable individuals throughout history, including military leaders and politicians.

The name's association with nobility and its historical significance in Scotland contributed to its adoption as a first name. Culturally, the name Lesli, along with its variants, has been embraced in literature and the arts, often symbolizing strength and resilience.

The name has been used in various forms across different cultures, with Lesley being a common variant. The feminine form Lesli emerged prominently in the 20th century, reflecting a broader trend of feminizing traditionally masculine names.

This evolution highlights the name's adaptability and its resonance within different cultural contexts, allowing it to maintain relevance across generations.

Famous people named Lesli

In this section, you will find notable people named Lesli. 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 Lesli who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Lesli 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.

Lesli Linka Glatter is a director and producer best known for Homeland, The Mindy Project, and Mad Men.

Lesli Margherita is an actress and singer best known for Matilda the Musical, Dames at Sea, and Zorro the Musical.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lesli, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LindsayKelseyAshleyMeganBrittanyTaylor

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Lesli. 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.

KelseyLesleyLindsayAshleyCarlyMeganBrittanyTamsin

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Lesli was first seen in the United States in 1946.

Lesli has ranked as high as #2121 nationally, which occurred in 2001, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Lesli has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Lesli 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 Lesli 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 Lesli.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 13 13
2024 22 22
2023 15 15
2022 10 10
2021 17 17
2020 17 17
2019 13 13
2018 11 11
2017 16 16
2016 10 10
2015 25 25
2014 26 26
2013 23 23
2012 41 41
2011 64 64
2010 76 76
2009 90 90
2008 137 137
2007 135 135
2006 162 162
2005 152 152
2004 151 151
2003 135 135
2002 147 147
2001 166 166
2000 145 145
1999 115 115
1998 79 79
1997 48 48
1996 78 78
1995 58 58
1994 49 49
1993 50 50
1992 56 56
1991 57 57
1990 50 50
1989 48 48
1988 46 46
1987 53 53
1986 53 53
1985 54 54
1984 50 50
1983 59 59
1982 87 87
1981 87 87
1980 86 86
1979 79 79
1978 80 80
1977 81 81
1976 87 87
1975 112 112
1974 117 117
1973 100 100
1972 110 110
1971 121 121
1970 110 110
1969 131 131
1968 126 126
1967 145 145
1966 139 139
1965 126 126
1964 117 117
1963 145 145
1962 89 89
1961 93 93
1960 79 79
1959 79 79
1958 89 89
1957 80 80
1956 55 55
1955 36 36
1954 37 37
1953 45 45
1952 24 24
1951 15 15
1950 20 20
1949 17 17
1948 8 8
1947 12 12
1946 13 13

Top States for Lesli (2024)

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
TX 5
100%