Josh vs Lester

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Josh

Boy #1,742 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"God is salvation"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English American Australian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,742
Total SSA Count
95
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Josh →

Lester

Boy #1,578 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"Roman fort on the River Leir"

Origin: Old English

Cultural Roots

English American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,578
Total SSA Count
109
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Les

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Lester →

Popularity Comparison

Josh Rank #1,742
Lester Rank #1,578

Lester is more popular, ranked #1578 vs #1742 for Josh.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Josh ___

  • Josh Michael
  • Josh Thomas
  • Josh Alexander
  • Josh Daniel
  • Josh James
  • Josh Ryan

Lester ___

  • Lester Wayne
  • Lester Dale
  • Lester James
  • Lester Ray
  • Lester Glenn
  • Lester Harold

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Josh

Jake Emma Caleb Hannah Ethan

If you choose Lester

Chester Clifford Mildred Harold Edna

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Josh or Lester more popular?

Lester is more popular, ranked #1578 compared to Josh at #1742 in the United States.

What do Josh and Lester mean?

Josh means "God is salvation" (Hebrew origin). Lester means "Roman fort on the River Leir" (Old English origin).

Are Josh and Lester boy or girl names?

Josh is primarily a boy name. Lester is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Josh ← Full profile: Lester Browse all baby names