Lester

Lester is a male first name that has its origin in an old Anglo-Saxon spelling of the English place and family name Leicester, which was known as Ligoraċeaster in the 10th century.

What does the name Lester mean?

The name Lester derives from the old Anglo-Saxon form of the name Leicester, which was known as Ligoraċeaster in the 10th century. Translated, Lester means "the one who comes from the legionary camp by the River Soar." The origin can be found in Old English and consists of the components Ligore, which means "clan name of a people by the River Soar," and ċeaster, which means "fortress," "fort," "castle," "camp," "military camp," or "fortified settlement." The name was adopted into German in the 20th century and has been in use in England since around 1840. The short form and pet form of the name is Les.

Where does the name Lester come from?

The first name Lester is of Old English origin and means "the one who comes from the legionary camp by the River Soar." The word components come from Old English: Ligore stands for the clan name of a people who lived by the River Soar, and ċeaster for terms like fortress, fort, castle, camp, military camp, or fortified settlement. The name is rooted in both Anglo-Saxon and English.

How do you pronounce Lester?

The pronunciation of Lester is two syllables and is pronounced as "Les-ter" [ˈlɛstɐ] or in English as [ˈlɛstər]. The short 'e' sound and the -st connection create a concise, slightly tense middle. The soft -er at the end softens the sound. Overall, Lester conveys a factual and urban impression that feels modern and self-assured.

Popularity

In Germany, Lester is a common first name. In 2013, it ranked 2,482nd among the most popular male baby names. Its best ranking was in 2011, reaching 2,275th place. From 2010 to 2024, Lester was given as a first name in Germany about 20 times, placing it at 5,827th. However, in the last ten years, no child has been named that.

Nicknames & pet names

Le / Les / Lessi

Famous people

• Albert Lester Lehninger (biochemist from America)
• Byron Lester Krieger (American fencer)
• Ernest Lester Smith (chemist from Great Britain)
• Geoffrey Charles Lester Lunt (English bishop)
• Gerry Lester Watson (American golfer)
• Lester B. Wikoff (American football player)
• Lester Balog (Hungarian photographer)
• Lester Basil Sinclair (Australian writer)
• Lester Boone (American jazz musician)
• Lester Charles King (geologist from Great Britain)
• Lester Del Rey (writer from the USA)
• Lester Dent (American writer)
• Lester Gaba (American artist)
• Lester Gatewood (football player from America)
• Lester Germer (American physicist)
• Lester H. Germer (American physicist)
• Lester Hayes (American football player)
• Lester Hearden (American football player)
• Lester Kruger Born (American historian)
• Lester Lane (American basketball player)