Name meaning & stats
Lesli
Lesli means “holly garden”. 5,799 US babies since 1940, peak 2001. Notable Leslis are 1.2× over-represented as professors.
What it means
“holly garden”
Spelling of Leslie
Originally a surname.
In US birth records
Peak year: 2001
5,799 US babies were named Lesli between 1940 and 2025.
Where Leslis end up
Not enough notable Leslis yet, so this uses the spelling family: Leslie, Lesley.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | 1.0× | High · 52 people |
| Writer | 1.2× | High · 45 people |
| Politician | 1.0× | High · 29 people |
| Professor | 1.2× | High · 25 people |
Among notable women who are professors, the Leslie family show up 1.2× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Lesli has a surprise career: 1.6×
Spelling family
1 in 69 Leslies spell it Lesli
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 2001)