Meaning: Its source is leas cuillinn, a Gaelic name meaning "Holly garden."

Languages: This boy's name is used in Dutch and English.

Nicknames: Les

Alternative Spellings: Lesley and Lesly

Popularity: The name Leslie ranked 208th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: This was a surname for a Scottish noble family closely associated with the royal house of Stewart.

It was popularized as a first name by Hungarian-born English actor Leslie Howard (1890-1943). As Ashley Wilkes in the 1939 film version of Gone With the Wind, he succeeded in popularizing both his personal name and his character's name.

In recent years both names, though still popular, are more commonly given to girls.

Meaning: Its source is leas cuillinn, a Gaelic name meaning "Holly garden."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English.

Nicknames: Lee, Lesa and Lessie

Alternative Spellings: Leslea, Leslee, Lesleigh, Lesley, Lesli, Lesly, Leslye, Lezlee, Lezleigh and Lezlie

Popularity: The name Leslie ranked 86th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 143rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name first made its appearance on state popularity lists before 1993, but is becoming less commonly used. In some cases, it has fallen off the lists altogether.

Narrative: This was the surname of a Scottish noble family closely associated with the royal house of Stewart.

It was popularized as a first name by Hungarian-born English actor Leslie Howard (1890-1943). As Ashley Wilkes in the 1939 film version of Gone With the Wind, Howard succeeded in popularizing both his personal name and his character's name.

In recent years both Ashley and Leslie, though still used for boys, have been more commonly given to girls.