Meaning and Origin of the Name Leslie

The exact origin of the name Leslie is actually unknown. It is believed that it might possibly be derived from a combination of the Gaelic lios meaning garden or fort, chuilinn meaning holly tree and laith meaning gray.

One thing that is known for, however is that it evolved from the Scottish Lesslyn, which was a name that was apparently assigned in Aberdeenshire. However, it did not become a common personal name until the 19th century. Leslie was originally a unisex name but is currently used mostly for girls.

Popularity

The popularity of Leslie is not currently very high. It was not among the the top 100 for boys in 2017. However, the feathery-like feel to the meaning of Leslie has made it remain within the top 1,000 for girls in the U.S. There are also some celebrities with the name.

Famous People Called Leslie

Leslie Phillips is a British actor and voiceover artist. However, he’s 95 years old and retired now.

Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian actor and comedian. He appeared in more than 250 shows in movies and television combined before passing on in 2010.

Leslie Howard was a British stage and film actor as well as occasionally writing for The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair. He passed on in 1943.

Leslie Crowther was a British actor, comedian and game show host. He passed on in 1996.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other English girls’ names.