Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Lester
BoyEnglish, Old English· “from the English city of Leicester”
- Meaning
- from the English city of Leicester
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- LEHS-tur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,641
- US babies 2025
- 103
- Best rank
- #52 (1906)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Lester
Lester is an English and Old English name that means “from the English city of Leicester”.
Lester began as an English surname taken from the city of Leicester, whose name goes back to Old English and an older Celtic tribal or river name. As a surname it was pronounced the way it is spelled today, and in time the spelling followed the sound. It moved into use as a first name in the nineteenth century and became a familiar American choice. The jazz saxophonist Lester Young, nicknamed Pres, gave it a cool musical association. Lester now has the relaxed, grandfatherly feel that makes it a candidate for a vintage revival, with Les as a friendly short form.
Popularity over time
Lester has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 119 different years. Its best national rank was #52 in 1906, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 3,229 were named Lester. In 2025, 103 babies were named Lester, and it ranked #1,641 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #69 in 1920, #148 in 1950, #370 in 1980, #1,019 in 2000, #1,411 in 2010, and #1,641 in 2025. Of the 130,688 US boys named Lester since records began, 20% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 21,509 babies. Since 2010, 1,655 more have been named Lester.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Woodrow, Lloyd, Sam, Elmer, and Wilbur.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lester ranked highest in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | #857 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | #890 | 9 |
| Tennessee | #998 | 6 |
| North Carolina | #1226 | 6 |
| Georgia | #1310 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Lester is usually pronounced LEHS-tur, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with L and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Lester
A few middle names that flow with Lester: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lester
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Lists that include Lester
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lester mean?
Lester is an English and Old English name that means “from the English city of Leicester”.
What is the origin of the name Lester?
Lester has English and Old English roots. Lester began as an English surname taken from the city of Leicester, whose name goes back to Old English and an older Celtic tribal or river name.
Is Lester a popular name?
Not especially. Lester ranked #1,641 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Lester a boy or girl name?
Lester is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Lester?
Lester is usually pronounced LEHS-tur. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings