"garden of holly"
Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Language: English
Lesly
Does Lesly flow with your last name?
A Scottish clan name with quiet, lasting elegance
American
Scottish
British
Spanish
Classic
Vintage
Elegant
Gentle
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Lesly
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Lesly
1 shorthand option for every setting
Meaning & Origin
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Lesly
See all →What the Lesly report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Lesly the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Lesly
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Lesly head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Lesly actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Lesly
Lesly is an alternate spelling of Leslie, which originates from a Scottish place name — Leslie is a parish in Fife, Scotland. The place name likely derives from the Gaelic 'lios liath' meaning grey fortress, or possibly from an element meaning garden of holly. The Leslie clan was a powerful Scottish noble family, and the surname eventually became a given name adopted for both boys and girls.
Leslie/Lesley was a popular girl's name in the US from the 1940s through the 1970s, peaking around 1960. The alternate 'Lesly' spelling emerged from parents wanting a distinctive twist on the classic. The name has declined as newer names took its place.
In Scotland, Leslie is still primarily a masculine name tied to the noble Leslie clan. In North America, it shifted predominantly feminine in the 20th century. The name Lesley was common among baby boomer women, making it feel distinctly of that era today.
Historical Record
Lesly first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 15,053 babies have been named Lesly in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Lesly is past its peak , currently ranked #1,102 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- In Scotland, Leslie is still predominantly a male name, while in America it shifted feminine
- The Leslie clan motto is 'Grip Fast', tracing back to a legend of King Malcolm III
- Leslie Howard, who played Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind, made the name internationally known as male
Lesly in Other Languages
French
Lesley
German
Leslie
Spanish
Lesly
Portuguese
Leslie
Scottish Gaelic
Liosliath
Popularity Over Time
#1,102
Current Rank
Peaked 2003
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Lesly
L
Lesley Gore
Musician
1946
American singer known for 'It's My Party' (1963), one of the most recognizable songs of the early 1960s
L
Leslie Nielsen
Actor
1926
Canadian-American actor famous for comedic roles in Airplane! and The Naked Gun series
L
Leslie Knope Fictional
Other
Fictional optimistic deputy director played by Amy Poehler in the TV series Parks and Recreation
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Aubrielle
Girl
"noble, bright power"
#1,087
Sharon
Girl
"fertile plain, coastal plain of Sharon"
#1,230
Esperanza
Girl
"expectation, anticipation"
#1,017
Isadora
Girl
"gift of Isis"
#1,222
Ryann
Girl
"descendant of Rian"
#1,191
Compare Lesly with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,102
- Total SSA Count
- 222
- Cultural Origins
- American Scottish British Spanish
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Les
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, Spanish heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, Scottish heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Lesly
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Lesly fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Lesly is also used as a boy name, ranked #38618.
View Lesly as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Lesly →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Lesly with...
Same Origin Names (American)
See all American names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Lesly
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Lesly and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Lesly sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Aubrielle
Girl
Germanic via French origin
"noble, bright power"
#1,087 in US
Sharon
Girl
Hebrew origin
"fertile plain, coastal plain of Sharon"
#1,230 in US
Esperanza
Girl
Latin origin
"expectation, anticipation"
#1,017 in US
Isadora
Girl
Greek (Isis + doron) origin
"gift of Isis"
#1,222 in US
Ryann
Girl
Irish origin
"descendant of Rian"
#1,191 in US
Ines
Girl
Greek origin
"holy, sacred"
#1,282 in US
Julissa
Girl
Latin/Greek origin
"youthful (from Julia)"
#1,035 in US
Kinslee
Girl
English surname origin
"from the king's estate"
#1,019 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Lesly's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lesly
What does the name Lesly mean?
"garden of holly" (from Scottish Gaelic). Lesly is an alternate spelling of Leslie, which originates from a Scottish place name — Leslie is a parish in Fife, Scotland. The place name likely derives from the Gaelic 'lios liath' meaning grey fortress, or possibly from an element meaning garden of holly. The Leslie clan was a powerful Scottish noble family, and the surname eventually became a given name adopted for both boys and girls.
What is the origin of the name Lesly?
Lesly has Scottish Gaelic, American, Scottish, British, and Spanish origins. In Scottish Gaelic, it means "garden of holly".
Is Lesly a boy or girl name?
Lesly is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1102. As a boy name, it is ranked #38618. Lesly is more commonly used as a girl name.
How popular is the name Lesly?
Lesly is currently ranked #1102 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Lesly?
Common nicknames for Lesly include Les.
What are good middle names for Lesly?
Popular middle name pairings include Lesly Ann, Lesly Marie, Lesly Grace, Lesly Diane, Lesly Jo, Lesly Rene, and Lesly Kay.
What are good sibling names for Lesly?
Names that pair well with Lesly as siblings include Donna, Sandra, Gary, Terry, Cheryl, Dennis, and Brenda.
How many syllables does Lesly have?
Lesly has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Lesly a common or rare name?
Lesly is an uncommon name, ranked #1102 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Lesly?
About the Name Lesly
Lesly is a girl name with American, Scottish, British, and Spanish origins . The name means "garden of holly" in Scottish Gaelic .
Is Lesly a boy or girl name? Lesly is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,102 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #38,618. Lesly is more commonly used as a girl name.
Lesly is currently ranked #1,102 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Lesly has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Lesly include Les. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Lesly include Leslie, Lesley . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Scottish Gaelic Names
Browse all names with this origin
L
Names Starting with L
More girl names like Lesly
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis