Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Wesley
BoyOld English· “west meadow”
- Meaning
- west meadow
- Origin
- Old English
- Pronunciation
- WEHS-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #52
- US babies 2025
- 5,578
- Best rank
- #52 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Wesley
Wesley is an Old English name that means “west meadow”.
Wesley comes from an English surname based on a place name meaning "west meadow" or "west clearing", from Old English west and leah. It became a given name largely in honor of John Wesley and his brother Charles, the eighteenth-century preachers who founded Methodism; many Methodist families named sons after them. The name has a friendly, collegiate feel, sitting comfortably between classic and modern. It shares the soft ending of names like Bradley and Ashley but has kept a distinctly masculine image. Wes is the natural nickname, short and easygoing, and the full name reads well on everything from a school roster to a business card.
Popularity over time
Wesley has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #52, and its highest count, 5,578 babies. Use has grown 72% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #129 in 1920, #165 in 1950, #95 in 1980, #171 in 2000, #159 in 2010, and #52 in 2025. Of the 247,713 US boys named Wesley since records began, 13% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 31,088 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Weston, Waylon, Thiago, Beau, and Roman.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Wesley ranked highest in Maine, New Hampshire, and Wyoming.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | #6 | 46 |
| New Hampshire | #9 | 57 |
| Wyoming | #12 | 16 |
| Utah | #13 | 154 |
| Wisconsin | #14 | 172 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Wesley over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Wesley is usually pronounced WEHS-lee, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with W and ends in “-ey”.
Middle names for Wesley
A few middle names that flow with Wesley: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Wesley
Similar names
Riley Unisex
RY-lee
“rye clearing” · English
#48
Bentley Boy
BEHNT-lee
“clearing with bent grass” · Old English
#215
Harley Unisex
HAR-lee
“hare meadow” · Old English
#418
Oakley Unisex
OHK-lee
“oak clearing” · English
#156
Kingsley Unisex
KINGZ-lee
“king's wood” · Old English
#1,096
Westley Boy
WEHST-lee
“west meadow” · English
#619
Bradley Boy
BRAD-lee
“broad clearing” · English
#403
Stanley Boy
STAN-lee
“stony clearing” · Old English
#863
Wyatt Boy
WY-uht
“brave in war” · English
#38
Weston Boy
WEHS-tuhn
“western town” · Old English
#55
Waylon Boy
WAY-luhn
“form of Wayland, the legendary smith” · English
#56
Finley Unisex
FIHN-lee
“fair warrior” · Scottish
#415
Lists that include Wesley
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Wesley mean?
Wesley is an Old English name that means “west meadow”.
What is the origin of the name Wesley?
Wesley has Old English roots. Wesley comes from an English surname based on a place name meaning "west meadow" or "west clearing", from Old English west and leah.
Is Wesley a popular name?
Yes. Wesley ranked #52 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Wesley a boy or girl name?
Wesley is mainly a boy's name. About 98% of US babies named Wesley over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Wesley?
Wesley is usually pronounced WEHS-lee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings