Declining since 1999, #4,546 for girls today.
Popularity of Lesley since 1882
Babies named Lesley per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 11 |
| 1890s | 5 | 18 |
| 1900s | 0 | 74 |
| 1910s | 65 | 260 |
| 1920s | 112 | 459 |
| 1930s | 219 | 363 |
| 1940s | 1,423 | 630 |
| 1950s | 3,125 | 809 |
| 1960s | 5,137 | 848 |
| 1970s | 7,719 | 628 |
| 1980s | 6,402 | 376 |
| 1990s | 4,638 | 193 |
| 2000s | 4,124 | 100 |
| 2010s | 1,095 | 28 |
| 2020s | 237 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Lesley is a feminine spelling of Leslie, a name that has been used in the United States since at least 1893, when it first appeared in Social Security records. Its peak popularity came in 1979, when it ranked substantially higher, but since 1999 it has been on a steady decline, ranking 4,546th in 2025 with a frequency of roughly 1 in 53,576 newborns. Although the top states for the name are not recorded, Lesley has been consistently used across the country. The name remains a classic Scottish-inspired choice, offering a more feminine alternative to Leslie.
Lesley originated as a feminine variant of the Scottish surname Leslie, itself from the Gaelic leas celyn, meaning 'garden of hollies' (from leas 'garden' and cuileann 'holly'). The Leslie family held lands in Aberdeenshire, and the name spread as a given name in the 19th century. While Leslie has been used for both sexes, Lesley became the standard feminine spelling in the 20th century.
Where Lesley is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Les
Variants: Leslie
Sibling names for Lesley
Names that share Lesley's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Lesley
Names whose popularity has moved with Lesley's over the last 50 years.
