Lester
Lester: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈlɛstɚ/
Meaning and origin of Lester
Root meaning: “exterior (part of a property)”
- A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th century and later usage.
Etymology
As an English surname, from the placename Leicester. * Also as an English surname of Norman origin, from Lestre in Normandy, from Old French Lestra, from Medieval Latin Laxtra, perhaps from extera (“exterior (part of a property)”). * As an English and Scottish surname, variant of Lister. * Also as an English surname, variant of Laster. * As a Scottish and Irish surname, shortened from McLester.
How popular is Lester?
Since 1880, 1,359 girls and 130,688 boys in the U.S. have been named Lester (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #887 in 1905. Its highest rank for boys was #52 in 1906. In 2025, 103 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Lester
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Lester
Sister and brother names that share Lester's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Lester FAQ
What does the name Lester mean?
Lester traces back to a root meaning "exterior (part of a property)". A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th century and later usage. As an English surname, from the placename Leicester. * Also as an English surname of Norman origin, from Lestre in Normandy, from Old French Lestra, from Medieval Latin Laxtra, perhaps from extera (“exterior (part of a property)”). * As an English and Scottish surname, variant of Lister. * Also as an English surname, variant of Laster. * As a Scottish and Irish surname, shortened from McLester.
What is the origin of the name Lester?
Lester is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Lester?
Since 1880, 1,359 girls and 130,688 boys in the U.S. have been named Lester (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #887 in 1905. Its highest rank for boys was #52 in 1906. In 2025, 103 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Lester a boy or girl name?
Lester is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 1,359 girls and 130,688 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.