How Many People Are Named Lester?
Complete statistics for the name Lester: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Lester is an old English place name meaning 'from Leicester,' and it's a classic that's been around for well over a century. About 43,315 people named Lester are living in the US today, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 7,619 Americans. The striking thing? The average Lester is 88 years old, so this is very much a name tied to a specific era.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 7 is traditionally associated with deep thinking, introspection, and a search for truth. People connected to the number 7 are often seen as analytical and spiritually aware, drawn to understanding the world beneath the surface.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 88All 131,829 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1918Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Lester Through the Generations
Lester hit its stride in the early twentieth century, peaking in 1918 with 3,265 babies born in a single year. Over all time, 131,829 Americans have carried the name, but only 43,315 are alive today, which tells you a lot about how long ago most of them were born. The age numbers confirm it clearly: a massive 115,095 of all recorded Lesters are over 60, that's 87% of the total. Only 3,390 are under 30, and 13,344 fall in the middle 30 to 60 range. The average age of 88 is extraordinarily high, even for a vintage name. Parents today almost never choose Lester, and the trend is a slow but steady decline. It's not on the verge of extinction, but it's firmly a name of the greatest generation, and those numbers aren't going to reverse anytime soon.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Lester's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Lester
How Many People Have the Name Lester?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 42,692 people in the United States currently share the name Lester. That works out to roughly 1 in every 7,764 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Lester a Common or Rare Name?
Lester is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Lester Mean?
Lester means "From the city of Leicester" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Lester in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Lester Most Popular?
The name Lester reached peak popularity in 1918, with 3,265 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Lester?
Approximately 42,692 people named Lester live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 42,692. That works out to roughly 1 in 7,764 Americans.
Is Lester a rare name?
Lester is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 7,764 Americans has this name.
What does the name Lester mean?
Lester means "From the city of Leicester" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Lester more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Lester are male and 1% are female.
When was Lester most popular?
Lester peaked in 1918 with 3,265 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.