Lester is a given name of English origin that has been used for centuries. It is derived from the Old English word "leodstar" which means "army leader". The name was originally used as a surname before becoming popular as a given name in the late Middle Ages.
The meaning behind the name Lester is "army leader" or "champion of the people". This significance has made it a popular choice among parents looking for a strong and powerful sounding name for their son.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures with the name Lester. One of the most famous was Lester B. Pearson, a Canadian statesman who served as the 14th Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968. He was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his role in resolving the Suez Crisis.
Today, Lester continues to be used as both a given name and a surname throughout the English-speaking world. It is often associated with strength, leadership, and courage due to its historical significance. Despite its long history of use, it remains relatively uncommon compared to other popular names such as John or William. This makes it an attractive choice for parents looking for a unique yet meaningful name for their child.
Between 1886 and 1985, there were a total of 1,359 babies named Lester born in the United States. The number of babies with this name varied greatly year by year. In some years, such as 1906 and 1962, only six or eight babies were given the name Lester. However, other years saw much higher numbers of babies being named Lester. For example, in 1915 there were twenty-eight births with this name.
The highest number of Lester births occurred between the years of 1917 and 1924. During these eight years, an average of thirty-five babies per year were given the name Lester. This is quite a significant increase compared to earlier decades where the average was around ten births per year.
After the peak in the late teens and early twenties, the number of Lester births began to decline gradually over time. From 1925 onwards, the number of babies named Lester consistently decreased each decade until the 1970s when it reached a low point with only five births reported in 1973.
In conclusion, while Lester was not one of the most popular names throughout history, it did experience a period of popularity during the early twentieth century. Despite its fluctuations over time, this name has been given to over a thousand babies in the United States during the span of a century.