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Home › Baby Names Directory › Lessie

Lessie

♀ Girl

Pronounced LESS-ee /ˈlɛs.i/High

Meaning: Origin uncertain. Lessie is likely a pet form of Leslie (a Scottish surname/place name) or of another name ending in -les/-lecia. We note the uncertainty rather than assign a firm root.Low

In 30 seconds: Lessie is an early-century American name of uncertain origin, likely a pet form of Leslie (said 'LESS-ee').
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningOrigin uncertain. Lessie is likely a pet form of Leslie (a Scottish surname/place name) or of another name ending in -les/-lecia. We note the uncertainty rather than assign a firm root.
U.S. rank (2023)#12883 ↗ Rising
2023 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1916
Total births (all-time)≈ 14,072

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191618802023

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

Lessie is an early-twentieth-century American name whose origin is uncertain: it most likely serves as a pet form of Leslie (a Scottish surname and place name) or another -les name. We note this uncertainty. It crested around 1916 and then faded, now a vintage rarity.

Given to several hundred girls a year at its height, Lessie now reads as an Edwardian-era name of unresolved origin.

Did you know? Lessie peaked around 1916 and had faded by mid-century; its origin is uncertain, likely a pet form of Leslie.
Overall data confidence 42%
References — Lessie — Likely pet form of Leslie; origin uncertain

Variations

LessyLeslieLecie

Nicknames

Les

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Lessie…

Leslie— a likely source name
Lettie— a like vintage pet name
Bessie— a like Edwardian -essie name
Nessie— a like early-century -essie name

Explore names like Lessie

By themeuncertainvintagediminutive1910s

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lessie mean?

Lessie's origin is uncertain; it is likely a pet form of Leslie or a similar -les name.

How do you pronounce Lessie?

It's said LESS-ee /ˈlɛs.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Lessie a boy or girl name?

Lessie is used as a girl's name.

Is Lessie making a comeback?

Not notably — it's an Edwardian-era favorite that has been rare for generations, a vintage name of uncertain origin.

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