Lesly

Lesly is a modernized (mostly American) spelling variation of Leslie. Leslie originated from a Scottish surname which itself derived from a place name in Aberdeenshire, northeastern Scotland, known as the lands of Lesslyn. The name likely comes from the Gaelic “les cuílinn” meaning ‘garden of hollies.’ The holly plant was important to the ancient Celtic people which they referred to as the plant “the sun never forgot” for its ability to stay green even in the winter. The Celts would use pieces of the holly plant in their winter solstice celebrations and believed them to represent the renewal of the coming spring. Given the cold climate of places such as Aberdeenshire where the holly grew, we’re not surprised that the ancient Celts valued this plant. Hence, many superstitions grew up around this perpetually green plant with its bright red berries. The Scandinavians believed that if planted near a house, the holly would protect their home from lightening. The Celtic people believed the plant would protect them in general, and some thought cutting it could bring misfortune. In any case, the clan name Lesslyn (Leslie) is both well-known and respected, descended from an ancient family who were closely connected to the royal Stewarts in the 14th and 15th centuries. Many given names have descended from Scottish surnames and Leslie is one example of this. The name has been considered unisex, but it is far more popular for females today, particularly in the United States. Traditionally, on the British Isles, the spelling Lesley was generally used for girls and Leslie for boys.