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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Roman fort
- Origin
- English (surname/place name, from Leicester)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- LES-ter
Lester traces back to Leicester, an English place name and surname, and its meaning is "Roman fort." It's a solid, historically grounded pick if you're drawn to names with a clear geographic root rather than an abstract or invented one.
Meaning & Origin of Lester
Meaning: Roman fort.
Origin: English (surname/place name, from Leicester).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Lester
LES-terIPA /ˈlɛstər/
Popularity of Lester
Lester peaked at #52 in 1906, when 482 boys were given the name, but by 2024 it had fallen to #1580 with just 109 babies — a name that was genuinely common a century ago and is now quite rare.
Names Like Lester
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Lester mean?
Roman fort. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Lester?
Lester is pronounced LES-ter (IPA: /ˈlɛstər/).
Is Lester a popular name right now?
Lester peaked at #52 in 1906 and is ranked #1580 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Lester Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Lester, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Lester? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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