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Name Lineage

    The first name Lester

    A boy’s name meaning “exterior (part of a property)”.

    Pronounced /ˈlɛstɚ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Lester means “exterior (part of a property)”.

    * As an English surname, from the placename Leicester. * Also as an English surname of Norman origin, from Lestre in Normandy, from Old French Lestra, from Medieval Latin Laxtra, perhaps from extera (“exterior (part of a property)”). * As an English and Scottish surname, variant of Lister. * Also as an English surname, variant of Laster. * As a Scottish and Irish surname, shortened from McLester.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Lester last appeared in the official list in 2022, given to 5 boys. It peaked in 2003, with 11 births (#1,410).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    145
    babies named Lester, 1996–2025
    #3,449
    rank in 2022
    2003
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Lester with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Lester at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 103 boys born in the United States were named Lester, the 1,641st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 3,229 were.

    02,0004,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    132,047
    babies named Lester since 1880
    #1,641
    rank in 2025
    1918
    peak year

    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.

    Famous people named Lester

    44 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Lester B. Pearson
      14th Prime Minister of Canada, from 1963 to 1968 (1897–1972)
    • Lester Young
      American jazz saxophonist (1909–1959)
    • Lester del Rey
      American science fiction author (1915–1993)
    • Lester Germer
      American physicist (1896–1971)
    • Lester Bangs
      American music critic and journalist, 1948–1982
    • Lester Russell Brown
      American environmental analyst, born 1934
    • Lester Allan Pelton
      American mechanical engineer (1829–1908)
    • Lester Bowie
      American jazz trumpet player and composer (1941-1999)
    • Lester Frank Ward
      American sociologist and paleontologist (1841-1913)
    • Lester Morgan
      Costa Rican footballer (1976-2002)
    • Lester Speight
      American football player, professional wrestler actor, born 1963
    • Lester Carney
      American sprinter, born 1934

    Questions

    What does the name Lester mean?
    Lester means “exterior (part of a property)”.
    How popular is the name Lester?
    In 2022, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Lester, ranking 3,449th. Its peak was 2003, with 11 births.
    Is Lester a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 132,047 US babies named Lester since 1880 were boys.
    When was Lester most popular?
    1918 in the United States, when 3,229 babies were named Lester, its highest rank at 62nd.
    How do you pronounce Lester?
    Lester is /ˈlɛstɚ/, 2 syllables.
    Is Lester also a surname?
    Yes. Lester is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.