Pronunciation | /ˈlɛsli/ LESS-lee or /ˈlɛzli/ LEZ-lee |
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Gender | Unisex (Male/Female) |
Origin | |
Language(s) | Scottish Gaelic, Hungarian, Slavic languages |
Derivation | from a placename |
Meaning | "Holly garden", "Glorious ruler" |
Region of origin | Scotland, Central and Eastern Europe |
Other names | |
Alternative spelling | Lesley (for females) |
Leslie is a surname and given name, derived from the name of Clan Leslie. The name may also be spelled Lesley. The name derives from a placename in Aberdeenshire,[1] perhaps an anglicisation of an originally Gaelic leas celyn "holly-garden".[2] Leslie is also frequently used as an anglicization of the male name Ladislaus, or its variant László.[3][4] In this context, the name is derived from Slavic elements, with 'vladeti' meaning 'rule' and 'slava' meaning 'glory'.[5] In the United Kingdom, the name is spelled Leslie when given to boys, while for girls it is usually rendered as Lesley.[citation needed]
Notable people and characters with the name include: