Crossword Genius

It's less than his whole name (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

len

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'it's less than his' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'whole name' is the wordplay.
'whole' becomes 'le' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'name' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation e.g. on forms).
'le'+'n'='LEN''

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for len that I've seen before include "- - Hutton, cricketer" , "Sir - - Hutton" , "Boy" , "Leonard (dim.)" , "-- Deighton, author" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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