John Lester

John means 'Yahweh is gracious' (Hebrew); Lester refers to 'from Leicester' or 'Roman fort' (Old English).

John Lester is a english / biblical boy name in the Philippines. PSA rank #340 (21,603 records), 3 syllables.

English / Biblical Modern English
PSA rank
#340
Count
21,603
Syllables
3
Origin
English / Biblical
Historical layer
Modern English
Sound
Neutral

Origin and meaning

John means 'Yahweh is gracious' (Hebrew); Lester refers to 'from Leicester' or 'Roman fort' (Old English).

John Lester is a classic example of modern Philippine compound naming traditions, heavily influenced by American naming conventions. The universal Christian classic 'John' is paired with 'Lester', an Anglo-Saxon surname turned first name. It gained significant popularity in the late 20th century across various Philippine provinces.

Compound given name combining the Biblical English name 'John' (from Hebrew Yochanan) and the English surname-turned-given name 'Lester' (derived from the city of Leicester).

English 60% Biblical 40%

Name character

Strength
3/5
Modernity
3/5
Formal feel
2/5
Sound: Neutral Everyperson Pairs with short or long surnames Travels well High origin confidence

In the Philippines

Frequently shortened to 'JL', 'Lester', 'John', or 'Jon-Jon'. Compounds with 'John' are among the most pervasive male naming templates in modern Philippine civil registries.

Best known for: John Lester (common modern Filipino compound name)

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John Lester with popular surnames

How the first name sits with a mother's maiden surname and father's surname.

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About the name John Lester

How do I use John Lester with two Filipino surnames?

John Lester is the given name. The full name is John Lester + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.

Is John Lester a common boy name in the Philippines?

PSA rank #340 describes how often this given name appears in Philippine records — not whether it is a better name. Fit with both family surnames still matters more for the birth certificate.