Les Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Les is derived from the French diminutive of Leslie, which has its roots in Scottish Gaelic, meaning 'from the meadow'. The name has evolved from Leslie to Les and is often viewed positively in modern contexts. It has no direct biblical relevance and became popular in the mid-20th century. Notable individuals with this name include Les Paul and Leslie Nielsen.
The name Les is most popular in Washington, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Les has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Les' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3419th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1406th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 760th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1284th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3746th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8790th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8303rd out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8106th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Les' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Les"
Pronunciation
/lɛs/
Origin
French
Etymology
Les is a diminutive form of the name Leslie, which has Scottish origins. The name Leslie itself comes from a place name in Scotland derived from the Gaelic elements 'leas' meaning 'garden' or 'meadow' and 'liath' meaning 'grey'.
Meaning
from the meadow
Language Evolution
Leslie, Les
Historical Usage
The name Les gained popularity in the mid-20th century as a short form of Leslie, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Leslie, Lester, Lesh
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Les is perceived as friendly and approachable, often associated with warmth and familiarity.
Famous People
Les Paul, Leslie Nielsen, Les Brown
Explore More Les Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Les"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Les"
"Les" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3419th of 7545 | 93 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1406th of 6773 | 429 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 760th of 7552 | 1,780 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1284th of 10718 | 694 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3746th of 16616 | 222 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 8790th of 24088 | 109 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 8303rd of 23106 | 105 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8106th of 12526 | 32 |
Regional Popularity of "Les" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
61.84% 956th/1546 |
57.13% 889th/1556 |
- |
42.08% 651st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
29.59% 659th/2227 |
36.13% 878th/2430 |
40.27% 1149th/2853 |
19.06% 529th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
39.60% 1163rd/2937 |
- |
41.93% 1475th/3518 |
31.80% 1286th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
55.42% 3501st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Les" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Les"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Les" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.