Les

♂ Boy

Pronounced LESS /ˈlɛs/High

Meaning: Les is the everyday short form of Leslie — a Scottish place-name and surname, perhaps from Gaelic leas celyn, 'garden of hollies' — and of Lester, from the English city Leicester. Used on its own it is a plain, mid-century short name.Low

In 30 seconds: Les is the short form of Leslie or Lester — a Scottish place-name and an English town name (said 'LESS'). Plain, friendly, and vintage.

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Origin MediumScottish, English

MeaningLes is the everyday short form of Leslie — a Scottish place-name and surname, perhaps from Gaelic leas celyn, 'garden of hollies' — and of Lester, from the English city Leicester. Used on its own it is a plain, mid-century short name.

U.S. rank (2024)#13390 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1961

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,437

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Les is a clipped form, standing chiefly for Leslie — a Scottish place-name and clan surname — and for Lester, an English name from the city of Leicester. As a stand-alone first name it flourished in the mid-twentieth century, when short, no-nonsense names were in fashion, and the guitarist Les Paul made it famous (said 'LESS').

It is rare in the U.S. today. Rare, vintage, and plain-spoken.

Did you know? Les carried a whole mid-century roster — Les Paul, who gave his name to the guitar, chief among them. Behind it stand Leslie, a Scottish place-name, and Lester, from the city of Leicester.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Les — Short form of Leslie/Lester

Variations

LeslieLesterLesley

Nicknames

LeeLezzy

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Les…

Lester— one of the names it shortens

Leslie— the Scottish name behind it

Wes— a like one-beat vintage clipping

Gus— a like short, friendly retro pick

Explore names like Les

By themeenglish short vintage nickname-name

By meaningEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Les mean?

Les is a short form of Leslie, a Scottish place-name and surname, or of Lester, from the English city of Leicester.

How do you pronounce Les?

It's said LESS /ˈlɛs/ — one syllable.

Is Les a boy or girl name?

Les is used as a boy's name; Leslie, the longer name, is given to both.

How popular is Les?

Les is a rare name for boys in the U.S. today, though it was better known in the mid-twentieth century.