An electrical stimulation lead includes terminals disposed along the proximal portion of the electrical stimulation lead； segmented electrodes disposed along the distal portion of the electrical stimulation lead； conductors electrically coupling the terminals to the electrodes； and an electrode carrier with divider segments extending from shoulder segments and disposed between, and separating, at least two of the segmented electrodes. The electrical stimulation lead can be formed by disposing electrode strips on an electrode carrier, each of the electrode strips comprising a plurality of pre-electrodes and at least one connection region in an alternating, longitudinal arrangement with one of the at least one connection region disposed between each adjacent pair of the pre-electrodes of the electrode strip； and removing each of the connection region(s) to separate the pre-electrodes into segmented electrodes.
