NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Lesedi

A feminine name of Sesotho origin meaning "light" or "brightness".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 9 boys.

Lesedi is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Lesedi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3970, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 5 births.

This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2006 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Lesedi is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 23 living people in the UK are called Lesedi. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Lesedi ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 5 girls were registered as Lesedi.
  • Lesedi is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lesedi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 71.9% of Lesedi registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3970

2022

Births in 2022

5

Latest year

Peak year

2022

5 births

Estimated living

23

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Lesedi

In England and Wales birth records, Lesedi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 28.1% of registrations are for boys and 71.9% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

28% boys
72% girls
Boys9 (28.1%)Girls23 (71.9%)

Lesedi registered for boys

  • Ranked #5,119 in 2024
  • 3 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2005 (3 births)

Lesedi registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,970 in 2022
  • 5 girls registered in 2022
  • Peak: 2022 (5 births)

Meaning

What does Lesedi mean?

The name Lesedi originates from the Sotho languages, spoken predominantly in South Africa and Lesotho. It dates back to the early Bantu civilizations of southern Africa, with roots stretching back over a millennium. Lesedi is derived from the word "letsedi," which means "light" or "illumination" in Sesotho and other related languages.

In traditional Sotho culture, names often carried symbolic meanings and were bestowed upon children with the hope of imparting positive qualities or aspirations. The name Lesedi was likely given to infants as a wish for them to be a source of light, knowledge, and guidance within their community.

While the exact historical origins of the name are difficult to pinpoint, it is believed to have been in use among the Basotho people for centuries. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in oral traditions and folklore passed down through generations.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Lesedi was Lesedi Matela, a prominent chief of the Bakgatla people in the late 19th century. He played a pivotal role in negotiating land rights and preserving the cultural heritage of his tribe during the colonial era in South Africa.

Another individual of historical significance was Lesedi Rammodi, a renowned South African educator and activist born in 1913. She dedicated her life to advocating for women's rights and promoting educational opportunities for underprivileged communities.

In the realm of literature, Lesedi Makhubedu was a celebrated Sesotho poet and author from Lesotho, born in 1930. Her works explored themes of cultural identity, tradition, and the struggles faced by her people under colonial rule.

Moving into the 20th century, Lesedi Mogakane, born in 1948, was a influential South African artist whose vibrant paintings and sculptures captured the essence of township life and the resilience of the human spirit during the apartheid era.

More recently, Lesedi Jacobs, born in 1976, has made a name for herself as a renowned South African actress and television personality, known for her roles in popular dramas and her advocacy for social causes.

While these are just a few examples, the name Lesedi has been carried by countless individuals throughout history, each contributing to the rich tapestry of Sotho culture and leaving their own unique mark on the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Lesedi over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Lesedi in England and Wales, from 2005 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Lesedi, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02356200520142024

Decades

Lesedi by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lesedi was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3970 5 1
2010s #5778 9 3
2000s #5387 9 3

Related

Names similar to Lesedi

FAQ

Lesedi: questions and answers

How popular is the name Lesedi in the UK right now?

In 2022, Lesedi was ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Lesedi most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 5 babies registered as Lesedi in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Lesedi?

A feminine name of Sesotho origin meaning "light" or "brightness".

How many people are called Lesedi in the UK?

A total of 23 babies have been registered as Lesedi across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.