Leslie

Leslie is a name that functions as both a surname and a given name. The surname originates from the town or barony of Leslie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and spread through Scotland and Ireland. The place name itself is of uncertain origin, but is generally linked to early Gaelic or Brythonic elements referring to land, meadow, or settlement. As a given name, Leslie has traditionally been masculine in Britain but has become widely used as a unisex name in many English-speaking countries, with female usage increasing in recent decades.

Notable people with the given name include actors Leslie Caron, Leslie Nielsen, Leslie Mann, and Leslie Jones; journalist and author Leslie Cockburn; and media executive Leslie Moonves. Variant spellings such as Lesley are common, and the name also appears as a surname in modern usage.

In fiction, Leslie characters appear in various works, including Leslie Knope, the energetic protagonist of Parks and Recreation, and Leslie Burke, a central figure in Bridge to Terabithia.

There are places named Leslie in Scotland and in North America, as well as towns and communities named Leslie in several countries. The name’s usage in geography and culture reflects its Scottish origins and its long-standing presence in the broader English-speaking world.