Leslie in Chinese
Leslie in Chinese is 莱斯莉 (Lái Sī Lì).
- Origin
- Scottish
- Meaning
- holly garden
Etymologically, Leslie is Scottish and is commonly glossed as "holly garden". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1960s. About 30% of US babies with this name were boys, so it is effectively unisex.
3 ways to write Leslie
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
莱斯莉
Lái Sī Lì
The standard transliteration of Leslie: 莱 (lái, "goosefoot plant (phonetic 'lai')"), 斯 (sī, "this (phonetic 's')"), 莉 (lì, "jasmine"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Mandarin has no consonant clusters, so the 2-syllable English name is spread over 3 characters: 莱 lái + 斯 sī + 莉 lì. The tone contour is 2-1-4 (rising, high level, falling).
Character breakdown
32 strokes total (simplified)- 莱
lái
Tone 2 · 10 strokes (simplified)
goosefoot plant (phonetic 'lai')
- 斯
sī
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
this (phonetic 's')
- 莉
lì
Tone 4 · 10 strokes (simplified)
jasmine
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
梅雪
Méi Xuě
Inspired by "holly garden": 梅 (méi, "plum blossom") + 雪 (xuě, "snow"), expressing flowers, trees and natural beauty.
Why these characters?
Because Leslie is linked to "holly", the name leads with 梅 (plum blossom); 雪 (snow) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
22 strokes total (simplified)- 梅
méi
Tone 2 · 11 strokes (simplified)
plum blossom
- 雪
xuě
Tone 3 · 11 strokes (simplified)
snow
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
莱蕙
Lái Huì
莱 (lái, "goosefoot plant (phonetic 'lai')") + 蕙 (huì, "fragrant orchid"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 莱 (lái), the same opening character as the transliteration 莱斯莉, for the "les" sound, and replaces the rest with 蕙 ("fragrant orchid") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
25 strokes total (simplified)- 莱
lái
Tone 2 · 10 strokes (simplified)
goosefoot plant (phonetic 'lai')
- 蕙
huì
Tone 4 · 15 strokes (simplified)
fragrant orchid
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 266,474 girls named Leslie since 1880, with the high point in 1957 (6,101 births) and the busiest decade being the 1960s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #115 to #448 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1957
- Peak decade
- 1960s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 266,474
More About Leslie in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Leslie offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Leslie, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for people, you might also be interested in Jordan in Chinese, Taylor in Chinese, and Angel in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Jamie in Chinese, Avery in Chinese, and Aubrey in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Leslie, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Leslie to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Leslie in Chinese characters?
莱斯莉 (Lái Sī Lì), or 萊斯莉 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is Leslie written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 莱斯莉 becomes 萊斯莉; the changed characters are 莱→萊. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.
Is Leslie a boy's or girl's name?
Both. In SSA data about 30% of bearers were boys; the Chinese transliteration 莱斯莉 is gender-neutral.