Given name & surname
Les
“roman fort”·“a man from Leicester”
In English use, Les is a diminutive of Lester. Interpretations include “roman fort” and “a man from Leicester” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Les is a diminutive of Lester. Interpretations include “roman fort” and “a man from Leicester” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Les is a short form of Leslie. Leslie has been associated with Scottish and Hungarian naming traditions. The precise derivation is uncertain. In English use, Les is a diminutive of Lester. A possible origin is English, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Les is used as a shortened form of Leslie.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1900. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Les is a diminutive of Lester. The history of Lester gives this family its wider story. Lester’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Les through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,480
- 3,448 boys · 32 girls
- Most popular year
- 1961
- 188 babies
- 2025
- 11
- #7,472 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −37%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 11 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 7,472 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 37.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 182 in 1961. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,284 as a first name in 2020; 420 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Les’s family of names
In English usage, Les is a diminutive of Leslie. In Greek usage, Les as a surname is a transliteration of Λες. Les is a short form of Leslie.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Les
- Les PaulAmerican jazz guitarist, country guitarist, songwriter and inventor (1915–2009)
- Les FerdinandEnglish association football player (born 1966)
- Les KurbasUkrainian and Soviet actor, theatre director, film director (1887—1937)
- Les AspinAmerican politician (1938-1995)
- Les WexnerAmerican businessman (1937-present)
- Les ClarkAmerican animator (1907–1979)
- Les ClaypoolAmerican musicianborn 1963
- Les MurrayAustralian poet and critic (1938-2019)
- Les BaxterAmerican musician, singer, composer (1922–1996)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Les, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ladd
“a servant; a young man”
>99% boys
Lenny
“having the strength of a lion” · “one who plays the flute”
76% boys · 24% girls
Cris
“follower of Christ” · “one who bears Christ inside”
97% boys · 3% girls
Russ
“a little red-haired boy”
>99% boys
Lee
“from the meadow”
94% boys · 6% girls
Niels
“the champion” · “of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Jens
“God is gracious”
>99% boys
Greg
“watchful” · “one who is vigilant; watch-”
>99% boys