Lesley

Scottish

"garden of holly"

Lesley Origin and Meaning

The name Lesley is a boy's name meaning "garden of holly".

Lesley as a masculine name derives from Scottish habitational surname origins, combining elements meaning "garden of holly" or "holly meadow." Though now more commonly used for girls in the United States, Lesley has a long tradition as a boy's name in Scotland and England. The masculine usage remains more prevalent in the UK, while Americans often prefer the spelling "Leslie" for boys.

The name peaked in male usage during the mid-20th century when actor and director Lesley Selander helped maintain its masculine associations. In the last year counted, no baby boys were named Lesley in the US, though about 40 boys were called Leslie, along with over 400 baby girls.

Lesley Rank in US Top 1000

# 945 in the US

Famous People Named Lesley

• Lesley James McNair U.S. Lieutenant General in WWI and II