Lester

“English surname from the place name Leicester” — Old English (place-name surname, from Leicester) origin

Boy's name · #1641 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Lester belongs to an older America first — it reached #52 back in 1906 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1641. About 131,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 9 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Lesters

Lester B. Pearson — 14th Prime Minister of Canada, from 1963 to 1968 (1897–1972)
Lester Young — American jazz saxophonist (1909–1959)
Lester del Rey — American science fiction author (1915–1993)
Lester Bird — Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda (1938-2021)
Lester Germer — American physicist (1896–1971)

In stories & tradition

Lester (Bullseye) — Daredevil
Lester Krinklesac — The Cleveland Show
Lester Nygaard — Fargo, season 1

What Lesters become

Among 505 notable people named Lester:

Military figures appear 1.61× more often than among typical names — e.g. Lester Lyles, United States general.

Similar names: Milton · Leroy · Clifford · Chester · Luther · Elmer

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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