Lesli

Meaning of Lesli

The appellation Lesli constitutes a variant orthography of Leslie, itself an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic toponym Lios Lai—commonly interpreted as “garden of holly”—which transitioned from surname to given name in Anglo-American usage during the mid-20th century. Phonetically rendered as /ˈlɛz.li/, Lesli presents a consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel sequence with primary stress on the initial syllable, employing a voiced alveolar lateral approximant followed by a voiced alveolar fricative to yield a precise and readily articulated form. Etymologically grounded yet streamlined in its five-letter construction, the name conveys an analytical juxtaposition of historical depth and modern brevity. Quantitative data from the U.S. Social Security Administration indicate that Lesli attained its highest popularity in the 1950s—consistently ranking between 677th and 692nd—before undergoing a protracted decline; nonetheless, recent records demonstrate a modest resurgence, with 22 occurrences and a 928th-place ranking in 2024. Within contemporary naming practices, Lesli is thus associated with understated sophistication, technical clarity, and a coolly refined identity that appeals to parents seeking both cultural resonance and phonological economy.

Pronunciation

English

  • Pronunced as LEZ-lee (/ˈlɛz.li/)

U.S. Popularity Chart

Notable People Named Lesli

Lesli Linka Glatter -
Susan Clarke
Curated bySusan Clarke

Assistant Editor