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Leslie

Boy / Girl name · 321 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Leslie: 321 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 31 births in 1975.

A perennial Scottish favorite, Leslie is a name with roots in the lands of Aberdeenshire, deriving from the Gaelic *leas* meaning "garden" or "holly-garden," though it may also mean "grey fort" from the place-name *Lios* *liath*. Its most famous bearer is perhaps the legendary actor and humanitarian Sir Leslie Nielsen, star of *Airplane!* and *The Naked Gun*, whose comedic timing was as sharp as the name's elegant sound. The name also lends itself to the Scottish clan and the stately Leslie House in Fife. Originally a masculine given name, Leslie has been a popular choice for girls in Scotland since the early 20th century.