gender neutral
Wesley
western meadow, western clearing
About Wesley
Picture a name that evokes rolling meadows and timeless charm—that's Wesley. This classic choice has graced generations while never feeling dated or stuffy. Wesley brings to mind someone dependable, creative, and warm-hearted. The name offers wonderful nickname potential with Wes providing a casual, friendly alternative. It's got literary credentials, historical depth, and a musical quality that makes it pleasant to say repeatedly. Wesley works seamlessly in professional settings while remaining approachable and down-to-earth. Parents appreciate its familiarity without oversaturation; your Wesley won't be one of five in his classroom. The name crosses cultural boundaries effortlessly and ages beautifully from infancy through adulthood. Whether you're drawn to traditional names with substance or seeking something that honors heritage while feeling current, Wesley delivers on all fronts with grace and understated elegance.
Popularity of the Name Wesley
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #109 | ||||
| 1881 | #119 | ||||
| 1882 | #102 | ||||
| 1883 | #122 | ||||
| 1884 | #121 | ||||
| 1885 | #128 | ||||
| 1886 | #121 | ||||
| 1887 | #116 | ||||
| 1888 | #113 | ||||
| 1889 | #147 | ||||
| 1890 | #117 | ||||
| 1891 | #120 | ||||
| 1892 | #120 | ||||
| 1893 | #119 | ||||
| 1894 | #113 | ||||
| 1895 | #112 | ||||
| 1896 | #122 | ||||
| 1897 | #136 | ||||
| 1898 | #124 | ||||
| 1899 | #136 | ||||
| 1900 | #128 | ||||
| 1901 | #116 | ||||
| 1902 | #133 | ||||
| 1903 | #126 | ||||
| 1904 | #128 | ||||
| 1905 | #123 | ||||
| 1906 | #135 | ||||
| 1907 | #125 | ||||
| 1908 | #135 | ||||
| 1909 | #136 | ||||
| 1910 | #152 | ||||
| 1911 | #131 | ||||
| 1912 | #134 | ||||
| 1913 | #133 | ||||
| 1914 | #132 | ||||
| 1915 | #133 | ||||
| 1916 | #135 | ||||
| 1917 | #136 | ||||
| 1918 | #137 | ||||
| 1919 | #135 | ||||
| 1920 | #129 | ||||
| 1921 | #127 | ||||
| 1922 | #127 | ||||
| 1923 | #125 | ||||
| 1924 | #131 | ||||
| 1925 | #135 | ||||
| 1926 | #132 | ||||
| 1927 | #134 | ||||
| 1928 | #143 | ||||
| 1929 | #143 | ||||
| 1930 | #142 | ||||
| 1931 | #143 | ||||
| 1932 | #144 | ||||
| 1933 | #147 | ||||
| 1934 | #142 | ||||
| 1935 | #148 | ||||
| 1936 | #145 | ||||
| 1937 | #146 | ||||
| 1938 | #150 | ||||
| 1939 | #146 | ||||
| 1940 | #152 | ||||
| 1941 | #158 | ||||
| 1942 | #155 | ||||
| 1943 | #155 | ||||
| 1944 | #159 | ||||
| 1945 | #163 | ||||
| 1946 | #167 | ||||
| 1947 | #163 | ||||
| 1948 | #169 | ||||
| 1949 | #166 | ||||
| 1950 | #165 | ||||
| 1951 | #171 | ||||
| 1952 | #166 | ||||
| 1953 | #159 | ||||
| 1954 | #155 | ||||
| 1955 | #151 | ||||
| 1956 | #157 | ||||
| 1957 | #160 | ||||
| 1958 | #160 | ||||
| 1959 | #160 | ||||
| 1960 | #164 | ||||
| 1961 | #163 | #246 | |||
| 1962 | #162 | ||||
| 1963 | #157 | #252 | |||
| 1964 | #162 | ||||
| 1965 | #160 | ||||
| 1966 | #157 | ||||
| 1967 | #168 | #309 | |||
| 1968 | #165 | #266 | |||
| 1969 | #157 | ||||
| 1970 | #152 | #250 | |||
| 1971 | #151 | #216 | |||
| 1972 | #154 | #306 | |||
| 1973 | #158 | #214 | |||
| 1974 | #165 | #287 | |||
| 1975 | #158 | ||||
| 1976 | #119 | #178 | |||
| 1977 | #66 | #62 | |||
| 1978 | #83 | #96 | |||
| 1979 | #89 | #118 | |||
| 1980 | #95 | #124 | |||
| 1981 | #99 | #122 | |||
| 1982 | #98 | #133 | |||
| 1983 | #101 | #139 | |||
| 1984 | #101 | #134 | |||
| 1985 | #94 | #281 | #126 | ||
| 1986 | #96 | #320 | #132 | ||
| 1987 | #92 | #189 | #136 | ||
| 1988 | #93 | #361 | #132 | ||
| 1989 | #98 | #278 | #150 | ||
| 1990 | #107 | #296 | #169 | ||
| 1991 | #106 | #328 | #161 | #130 | |
| 1992 | #111 | #342 | #168 | #127 | |
| 1993 | #113 | #368 | #168 | #130 | |
| 1994 | #118 | #214 | #179 | #151 | |
| 1995 | #129 | #328 | #177 | #151 | |
| 1996 | #137 | #254 | #222 | #157 | |
| 1997 | #144 | #244 | #244 | #183 | #189 |
| 1998 | #153 | #226 | #322 | #188 | |
| 1999 | #168 | #251 | #295 | #240 | #196 |
| 2000 | #171 | #250 | #346 | #206 | |
| 2001 | #184 | #277 | #375 | #186 | |
| 2002 | #183 | #251 | #339 | #392 | #200 |
| 2003 | #184 | #295 | #498 | #186 | |
| 2004 | #184 | #291 | #407 | #321 | #214 |
| 2005 | #189 | #364 | #369 | #199 | |
| 2006 | #190 | #407 | #588 | #224 | |
| 2007 | #195 | #404 | #525 | #193 | |
| 2008 | #194 | #551 | #596 | #207 | |
| 2009 | #176 | #523 | #694 | #183 | |
| 2010 | #159 | #587 | #714 | #190 | |
| 2011 | #156 | #598 | #179 | ||
| 2012 | #155 | #583 | #614 | #174 | |
| 2013 | #139 | #718 | #164 | ||
| 2014 | #130 | #697 | #135 | ||
| 2015 | #126 | #564 | #120 | ||
| 2016 | #117 | #655 | #271 | #116 | |
| 2017 | #111 | #708 | #605 | #89 | |
| 2018 | #105 | #855 | #472 | #593 | #94 |
| 2019 | #99 | #713 | #369 | #889 | #76 |
| 2020 | #98 | #691 | #422 | #75 | |
| 2021 | #85 | #673 | #352 | #67 | |
| 2022 | #70 | #638 | #909 | #59 | |
| 2023 | #70 | #659 | #921 | #53 | |
| 2024 | #58 | #580 | #290 | #40 | |
| 2025 | #52 | #595 | #269 | #38 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Wesley
Names Similar to Wesley
Nicknames for Wesley
- Wes
- Lee
- West
- Ley
Famous People Named Wesley
| Wesley Snipes | American actor |
| Wesley Sneijder | Dutch footballer |
| Wesley Matthews | American basketball player |
| Wesley Fofana | French footballer |
| Wesley So | Filipino-American chess grandmaster |
| Wesley Johnson | American basketball player |
| Wesley Barrell | English furniture maker |
| Wesley Willis | American musician and artist |
| Wesley Brown | American naval officer and first African American to command a U.S. Navy ship |
| Wesley Bryan | American professional golfer |
| Wesley Clark | Canadian ice hockey player |
| Wesley Stromberg | American singer and member of the band Emblem3 |
| Wesley Walker | American football player |
| Wesley Singerman | American actor and voice artist |
| Wesley Schultz | American musician and lead vocalist of the band The Lumineers |
| Wesley Woodyard | American football player |
| Wesley Morgan | English actor |
| Wesley Ruggles | American film director and producer |
Characters Named Wesley
| Wesley Crusher | Star Trek - The Next Generation |
| Wesley Wyndam-Pryce | Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel |
| Wesley "Two Scoops" Berry | Goodfellas |
| Wesley Dodds | DC Comics character |
| Wesley Collins | Power Rangers - Time Force |
| Wesley "Wes" Gibbins | How to Get Away with Murder |
| Wesley Mitchell | Common Law |
| Wesley Gibson | Wanted |
| Wesley O'Meara | Little Miss Sunshine |
| Wesley "Wes" Jensen | Deadly Class |
| Wesley "Wes" Weston | Danny Phantom |
| Wesley Mouch | Atlas Shrugged |
| Wesley J. Koolhof | Mulan |
| Wesley T. Owens | American Vandal |
| Wesley Foster | The Fosters |