Lesslie is a unique and distinctive given name of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Scottish surname Leslie, which is believed to have originated from a place name in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The name Leslie is thought to mean "garden of holly" or "garden of the elm trees," depending on the interpretation of its components.
The name Lesslie has been used as both a male and female given name throughout history, although it is more commonly associated with males today. It gained popularity in Scotland during the Middle Ages but was not widely used elsewhere until the 19th century when it began to appear in other English-speaking countries such as England and the United States.
Some notable individuals with the name Lesslie include American politician Leslie Aspin, who served as a Democratic Congressman from Wisconsin for over two decades, and Scottish poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott's character, Lord Glenallan, also known as "the Master of Glenallan," in his novel The Heart of Midlothian.
Despite its unique spelling and pronunciation, the name Lesslie has stood the test of time and continues to be chosen by parents for their children today. Its Scottish heritage adds a touch of elegance and history to this beautiful and distinctive given name.
The name Lesslie has a varied history of popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1957 and 2019, there were a total of 499 babies named Lesslie at birth.
The name's popularity peaked between the late 1990s and early 2000s, with particularly high numbers of births recorded in 1997 (18 births), 1998 (20 births), 1999 (14 births), 2000 (18 births), 2001 (24 births), 2002 (27 births), and 2003 (27 births). This suggests that the name Lesslie was quite trendy during this period.
However, the popularity of the name has fluctuated significantly over the years. For instance, there were only 5 recorded births named Lesslie in both 1964 and 2014, indicating a significant decline in its popularity between these decades.
Despite these fluctuations, it's clear that the name Lesslie has maintained some level of popularity throughout the years, with at least one birth recorded annually since 1957, except for the years 1965 to 1969 and 2015 to 2018. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues in the coming years.
In conclusion, while Lesslie may not be one of the most popular names in the United States, its persistent presence over the decades indicates that it continues to resonate with parents as a unique and meaningful choice for their children's names.