Leslie
How to say it: LES-lee · /ˈlɛsli/
From a Scottish place name and surname, derived from Gaelic 'leas celyn' meaning 'garden of holly'.
Leslie was the 510th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 393 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1960s, its births are down about 52% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #603 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #510 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 393 |
| Share of births | 1 in 5,796 |
| Peak decade | 1960s |
| Change over 10 years | −52% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #603 |
| In France, 2025 | #756 among girls’ names, 25 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
At its height in the 1960s, Leslie has faded since. Far below that peak now, further slipping looks likely.
What goes with it
Mellow and flowing in two syllables sounded as LES lee with soft breathy tones. Shannon and Heather belong in the same group.
Nicknames
- Les
Honouring a Leslie in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Leslie is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #756 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Leslie
- Leslie Caron (born 1931)French and American actress and dancer
- Leslie Mann (born 1972)American actress
- Leslie Bibb (born 1973)American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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