Named after Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester, who built Leicester House here.
He bought the land in 1630 and had built his house by 1635. When he enclosed the common land in front of it, parishioners appealed to Charles I, and the earl had to keep part of it open: it was laid out in 1670 as Leicester Fields. Early Tube plans called the station Cranbourn Street. The city of Leicester is named after a people, the Ligore, and ceaster, a Roman fort or town.