Lesly Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LEZ-lee //ˈlɛzli//
Origin: English; Scottish
Meaning: English: meadow; Scottish: from the meadow
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Lesly has its roots in the Scottish surname Leslie, which is derived from a place name in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The etymology of Leslie can be traced back to the Gaelic "Leas Celyn," meaning "garden of hollies." This name was first recorded in the 12th century, associated with the Leslie family, who were granted lands in Scotland.
The transition from a surname to a given name occurred in the 19th century, as surnames began to be used as first names, particularly for girls, reflecting a broader trend in naming practices during that period. Historically, the Leslie family produced notable figures, including the 1st Earl of Rothes in the 17th century, who played a significant role in Scottish politics.
The name gained further prominence through its association with various historical events and figures, including the involvement of the Leslie family in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The name was also popularized through literature and poetry, contributing to its cultural resonance.
Lesly, as a variant of Leslie, has been embraced in various cultures, often symbolizing strength and resilience due to its historical associations. The name has been used in various forms across different languages, including Lesley and Leslee, which further illustrates its adaptability.
The enduring appeal of the name can be attributed to its rich historical background and the positive connotations associated with the Leslie lineage, making it a name that carries both heritage and significance.
Famous people named Lesly
In this section, you will find notable people named Lesly. 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 Lesly who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Lesly 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.
Lesly S. Kahn is an acting coach best known for her work with actors in film and television.
Lesly J. Smith is a writer best known for her novels and contributions to contemporary literature.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lesly, 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 Lesly. 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 Lesly was first seen in the United States in 1936.
Lesly has ranked as high as #651 nationally, which occurred in 2003, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Lesly has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Lesly 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 Lesly was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Lesly (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 40 | |
| TX | 33 | |
| NY | 23 | |
| FL | 12 | |
| TN | 10 | |
| MD | 8 | |
| IL | 8 | |
| VA | 8 | |
| AZ | 7 | |
| NJ | 7 | |
| AL | 6 | |
| NC | 6 | |
| CT | 6 | |
| GA | 6 | |
| IN | 5 |
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 Lesly.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 222 |
| 2023 | 153 |
| 2022 | 181 |
| 2021 | 147 |
| 2020 | 165 |
| 2019 | 173 |
| 2018 | 190 |
| 2017 | 197 |
| 2016 | 194 |
| 2015 | 230 |
| 2014 | 276 |
| 2013 | 314 |
| 2012 | 367 |
| 2011 | 404 |
| 2010 | 505 |
| 2009 | 598 |
| 2008 | 699 |
| 2007 | 766 |
| 2006 | 761 |
| 2005 | 783 |
| 2004 | 747 |
| 2003 | 839 |
| 2002 | 717 |
| 2001 | 802 |
| 2000 | 742 |
| 1999 | 672 |
| 1998 | 516 |
| 1997 | 401 |
| 1996 | 330 |
| 1995 | 195 |
| 1994 | 160 |
| 1993 | 145 |
| 1992 | 112 |
| 1991 | 110 |
| 1990 | 88 |
| 1989 | 51 |
| 1988 | 54 |
| 1987 | 52 |
| 1986 | 37 |
| 1985 | 37 |
| 1984 | 45 |
| 1983 | 35 |
| 1982 | 52 |
| 1981 | 43 |
| 1980 | 31 |
| 1979 | 26 |
| 1978 | 21 |
| 1977 | 26 |
| 1976 | 23 |
| 1975 | 23 |
| 1974 | 20 |
| 1973 | 23 |
| 1972 | 11 |
| 1971 | 29 |
| 1970 | 25 |
| 1969 | 19 |
| 1968 | 27 |
| 1967 | 36 |
| 1966 | 41 |
| 1965 | 33 |
| 1964 | 34 |
| 1963 | 39 |
| 1962 | 44 |
| 1961 | 28 |
| 1960 | 30 |
| 1959 | 23 |
| 1958 | 21 |
| 1957 | 13 |
| 1956 | 19 |
| 1955 | 8 |
| 1954 | 14 |
| 1953 | 12 |
| 1952 | 9 |
| 1951 | 27 |
| 1950 | 11 |
| 1949 | 10 |
| 1948 | 8 |
| 1947 | 7 |
| 1946 | 10 |
| 1945 | 6 |
| 1943 | 6 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 7 |
| 1939 | 6 |
| 1938 | 5 |
| 1936 | 5 |