Leslie is a gender-neutral given name of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Scottish surname Leslie, which is of Norman origin and means "from the garden of Leith". The name Leith itself refers to a town in Scotland where the Leslie family had lands.
The name Leslie first appeared as a given name in the 18th century, but it became more popular in the late Victorian era. It was often used for boys at that time, but today it is considered unisex and can be given to children of either gender.
Some famous people with the name Leslie include:
* Leslie Howard (1893-1943), a British actor who appeared in films such as "Gone with the Wind" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel".
* Leslie Nielsen (1926-2010), a Canadian-American actor known for his comedic roles in films like "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun" series.
* Leslie Caron (born 1931), a French actress and dancer who starred in films such as "An American in Paris" and "Gigi".
Overall, the name Leslie has a rich history and a unique meaning that makes it an attractive choice for parents looking for a distinctive yet classic name for their child.
The name Leslie has been given to babies born in the United States every year since at least 1880. In that first year on record, there were only 8 babies named Leslie. However, by 1889, the number of Leslie births had more than doubled, with 23 babies receiving the name each year.
The popularity of the name Leslie continued to grow throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By 1914, there were 68 babies named Leslie, and by 1923, that number had reached a peak of 151 births per year. This popularity persisted until the late 1930s, with an average of around 175 Leslie births per year between 1936 and 1940.
After World War II, there was a significant increase in the number of babies named Leslie. In 1946, the first full year after the war ended, there were 2139 Leslie births – more than five times the previous peak. This trend continued into the 1950s, with over 4000 babies named Leslie each year between 1952 and 1957.
The popularity of the name Leslie reached its zenith in 1957, with a total of 6102 births that year. However, it was not to last. Between 1958 and 1965, the number of Leslie births dropped by more than half, from 6014 in 1958 to just 4875 in 1965.
The decline in popularity continued throughout the late 20th century, with fewer than 4000 babies named Leslie each year after 1971. By the early 21st century, the number of Leslie births had fallen below 1000 per year, and it has remained relatively stable at that level ever since.
In recent years, there have been around 500-600 babies named Leslie each year in the United States. While this is a far cry from the peak popularity of the name in the mid-20th century, it still represents a significant number of births and shows that the name Leslie continues to be chosen by parents for their children today.
In total, since at least 1880, there have been over 269,525 babies named Leslie born in the United States. This makes Leslie one of the most popular names in American history, with a rich and varied history of popularity over more than a century.