leslie

IPA/lˈɛsli/
KK[lˈɛsli]IPA/lˈɛsliː/

leslie — noun

1. a personal name given to a baby at birth; it can be used for both males (usually

1.noun
Definition

a personal name given to a baby at birth; it can be used for both males (usually spelled Leslie) and females (usually spelled Lesley), with Les as a common shortened form for males

Example

Dewi met Leslie at the library to study for the final exam.

name used in introduction context

Leslie and Chiara both applied for the same job at the bank.

Synonyms
  • Lesley

    alternative spelling used predominantly for girls

Usage Note

The spelling Lesley is more common for girls. The short form Les is almost always used for males only.

Common Mistakes

I wrote to Lesley when I meant the male candidate.
I wrote to Leslie when I meant the male candidate.
Leslie is the standard spelling for males; Lesley is the female variant.

Word family

  • Lesley
    noun
  • Les
    noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Leslie, Lesley, and Les are different forms of the same personal name. Leslie is the standard spelling used for boys and also appears as a girl's name in some English-speaking countries. Lesley is a distinct spelling that is used almost exclusively for girls. Les is a short, informal form of Leslie and is normally used for males only — a female named Lesley would not usually go by Les. In writing, the choice between Leslie and Lesley signals the gender of the person being named. When meeting someone for the first time, using the full name (Leslie or Lesley) is more formal and respectful than jumping straight to the short form Les.

Leslie ↗LesleyLes

Etymology

Scottish GaelicScotsEnglish

Leslie comes from a Scottish place name in Aberdeenshire. The place name may come from Scottish Gaelic elements meaning 'garden of holly' or 'grey fort'. It was first used as a surname by families from that area before becoming a personal name. Today it is used in many English-speaking countries as a first name for both boys and girls.