The first name Leslie
A unisex name meaning “garden of hollies”.
Pronounced /ˈlɛzli/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Leslie means “garden of hollies”.
From a placename in Aberdeenshire, originally Lesslyn, Scottish Gaelic lios cuileann (“garden of hollies”).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 5 boys were named Leslie, making it the 3,684th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 31 births (#552).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Leslie with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Leslie at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 393 girls born in the United States were named Leslie, the 712th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1957, when 6,103 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Leslie in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Leslie in French too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Leslie
145 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Leslie NielsenCanadian-American actor and comedian (1926–2010)
- Leslie CaronFrench and American actress and dancer (born 1931)
- Leslie MannAmerican actress, born 1972
- Leslie HowardBritish actor (1893–1943)
- Leslie LamportAmerican computer scientist, born 1941
- Leslie BibbAmerican actress, born 1973
- Leslie JordanAmerican actor (1955–2022)
- Leslie PhillipsBritish actor (1924–2022)
- Leslie UggamsAmerican actress and singer, born 1943
- Leslie Odom Jr.American actor and singer (born 1981)
- Leslie WhiteAmerican anthropologist (1900–1975)
- Leslie GrossmanAmerican actress, born 1971
Questions
- What does the name Leslie mean?
- Leslie means “garden of hollies”.
- How popular is the name Leslie?
- In 2025, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Leslie, ranking 3,684th. Its peak was 1996, with 31 births.
- What are nicknames for Leslie?
- Common nicknames for Leslie include Les, Lez.
- Is Leslie a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 383,418 US babies named Leslie since 1880, 71% were girls and 29% boys.
- When was Leslie most popular?
- 1957 in the United States, when 6,103 babies were named Leslie, its highest rank at 77th.
- How do you pronounce Leslie?
- Leslie is /ˈlɛzli/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Leslie?
- Lesley.
- Is Leslie also a surname?
- Yes. Leslie is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.