Lester Boy

Popularity: #835 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LES-ter //ˈlɛstər//

Origin: English; Latin

Meaning: English: from the camp; Latin: from the town

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Lester has its roots in the Old English word "leah," meaning "meadow" or "clearing," combined with "ceaster," which refers to a Roman fort or town. This etymological composition suggests a geographical origin, likely referring to a settlement near a meadow or clearing associated with a Roman site.

The name evolved through various forms, including the Latin "Lepidum" and the Old French "Lestre," before making its way into Middle English as "Lester." The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Old French names were adopted into the English lexicon. Historically, the name Lester is associated with the city of Leicester in England, which has roots dating back to Roman times.

The city was known as "Ratae Corieltauvorum" during the Roman occupation, and it became a significant urban center in the medieval period. The name Lester has been borne by various notable figures throughout history, including Lester B.

Pearson, a Canadian statesman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Lester Young, an influential jazz saxophonist in the early 20th century. The name has also appeared in literature and popular culture, contributing to its historical significance.

Culturally, the name Lester has been associated with notions of strength and resilience, likely due to its connection to the enduring legacy of the city of Leicester. The name has been used in various artistic expressions, including literature and music, which have helped to maintain its presence in cultural memory.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as Les have emerged, reflecting a more informal and affectionate usage of the name. Overall, Lester carries a rich historical and cultural resonance, rooted in its geographical origins and the notable figures who have borne the name.

Famous people named Lester

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

We also feature individuals named Lester 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.

Lester Young is a jazz saxophonist best known for his work with the Count Basie Orchestra and his influence on the cool jazz movement.

Lester Holt is a journalist best known for being the anchor of NBC Nightly News and hosting Dateline NBC.

Lester B. Pearson is a diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize laureate best known for his role in founding the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces.

Fictional characters named Lester

The following list of fictional characters named Lester 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.

Lester Burnham is a fictional character from the film American Beauty. He is a middle-aged man undergoing a midlife crisis, seeking to reclaim his lost youth and happiness.

Sibling suggestions

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

LandonLoganLucasLeviLiamLance

Similar names

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

HesterJesterAlisterSylvesterDexterMisterFesterKester

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Lester was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Lester has ranked as high as #145 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Texas, and Ohio.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Lester 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 Lester 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 Lester.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 103 103 0
2024 111 111 0
2023 82 82 0
2022 96 96 0
2021 109 109 0
2020 109 109 0
2019 100 100 0
2018 93 93 0
2017 88 88 0
2016 105 105 0
2015 104 104 0
2014 106 106 0
2013 125 125 0
2012 104 104 0
2011 102 102 0
2010 118 118 0
2009 127 127 0
2008 142 142 0
2007 120 120 0
2006 146 146 0
2005 128 128 0
2004 137 137 0
2003 148 148 0
2002 139 139 0
2001 142 142 0
2000 144 144 0
1999 173 173 0
1998 133 133 0
1997 166 166 0
1996 172 172 0
1995 179 179 0
1994 207 207 0
1993 252 252 0
1992 251 251 0
1991 287 287 0
1990 260 260 0
1989 314 314 0
1988 309 309 0
1987 277 277 0
1986 302 302 0
1985 327 321 6
1984 351 346 5
1983 399 399 0
1982 400 400 0
1981 436 436 0
1980 472 466 6
1979 429 422 7
1978 392 387 5
1977 460 453 7
1976 481 475 6
1975 497 497 0
1974 471 471 0
1973 509 504 5
1972 596 589 7
1971 632 632 0
1970 689 680 9
1969 727 718 9
1968 747 747 0
1967 739 731 8
1966 779 771 8
1965 964 956 8
1964 1,013 1,000 13
1963 1,117 1,101 16
1962 1,125 1,117 8
1961 1,296 1,284 12
1960 1,328 1,316 12
1959 1,350 1,335 15
1958 1,480 1,466 14
1957 1,645 1,636 9
1956 1,716 1,702 14
1955 1,706 1,691 15
1954 1,775 1,758 17
1953 1,792 1,776 16
1952 1,744 1,724 20
1951 1,735 1,722 13
1950 1,772 1,758 14
1949 1,767 1,752 15
1948 1,794 1,781 13
1947 1,959 1,944 15
1946 1,679 1,669 10
1945 1,631 1,618 13
1944 1,664 1,651 13
1943 1,784 1,764 20
1942 1,763 1,749 14
1941 1,579 1,563 16
1940 1,610 1,591 19
1939 1,561 1,549 12
1938 1,622 1,604 18
1937 1,588 1,576 12
1936 1,563 1,546 17
1935 1,644 1,626 18
1934 1,705 1,687 18
1933 1,663 1,644 19
1932 1,831 1,813 18
1931 1,943 1,919 24
1930 2,044 2,020 24
1929 2,136 2,106 30
1928 2,262 2,229 33
1927 2,480 2,440 40
1926 2,570 2,539 31
1925 2,581 2,559 22
1924 2,814 2,780 34
1923 2,801 2,765 36
1922 2,988 2,951 37
1921 3,109 3,076 33
1920 3,101 3,068 33
1919 3,055 3,020 35
1918 3,265 3,229 36
1917 2,889 2,854 35
1916 2,930 2,907 23
1915 2,971 2,943 28
1914 2,176 2,164 12
1913 1,753 1,736 17
1912 1,463 1,443 20
1911 664 657 7
1910 566 556 10
1909 511 501 10
1908 522 509 13
1907 500 491 9
1906 488 482 6
1905 450 432 18
1904 409 398 11
1903 408 400 8
1902 398 385 13
1901 338 332 6
1900 441 431 10
1899 300 290 10
1898 307 298 9
1897 318 310 8
1896 326 318 8
1895 300 295 5
1894 291 291 0
1893 248 243 5
1892 250 240 10
1891 191 191 0
1890 231 226 5
1889 218 213 5
1888 189 189 0
1887 168 168 0
1886 166 160 6
1885 141 141 0
1884 123 123 0
1883 116 116 0
1882 134 134 0
1881 87 87 0
1880 109 109 0

Top States for Lester (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
PA 8
13%
FL 8
13%
NY 8
13%
CA 7
11%
OH 6
10%
TX 5
8%
WI 5
8%
IN 5
8%
MI 5
8%
NC 5
8%