XYplorer dev here: I checked that in XYplorer and indeed when using the standard copy (using the shell copy API) any leading spaces are automatically removed from the copied filenames.

I recommend to enable XYplorer's own "Custom Copy" which does not have this sort of undesired smartness. Or use XYplorer's Backup function which also does not have this problem.

OTOH, I would generally not recommend leading spaces in filenames. Sooner or later they will get you in trouble.

Don

Well, XYplorer has this functionality for many years (since 05-Oct-2009). And it also can do it for files, of course. 8)
The commands are called "New Folders" and "New Files", both under menu Edit / New.

Note that XYplorer native variables, environment variables, and full and relative paths are supported. So you can as well state patterns like these:

      MoonLanding\TopSecret\new.txt
      \MarsLanding\TopSecret\new.txt
      D:\Testpath\new.txt
      %username%.txt
      New <date yyyymmdd>.txt

The latest XYplorer (16.10) has something brand-new to offer along these lines: Batch Move

http://www.xyplorer.com/release_16.10.php#BatchMove

Can move heaps of files to new folders by much more properties than just parts of the filename.

Just saying. :)