Wesley
Wesley is a name with an Anglo-Saxon etymology. It is derived from the surname "Westlēah". The "Wes" portion of the name refers to the cardinal direction "West"; the "ley" portion is from "lēah", meaning a field, pasture, meadow, or other clearing in a forest. Thus, the name's origin refers to a "western lēah," or a field to the west.
Meaning & Origin of Wesley
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Wesley is a name with an Anglo-Saxon etymology. It is derived from the surname "Westlēah". The "Wes" portion of the name refers to the cardinal direction "West"; the "ley" portion is from "lēah", meaning a field, pasture, meadow, or other clearing in a forest. Thus, the name's origin refers to a "western lēah," or a field to the west.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Wesley
Wesley first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 123 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 5,371 Wesleys were born — ranking #54 that year. As of 2026, Wesley ranks #54 for baby boys with 5,371 births, rising sharply (+32% over the past five years). In total, more than 253K Wesleys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Wesley
Phonetically similar names — useful when Wesley is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wesley
What does the name Wesley mean?
How popular is Wesley in 2026?
When was Wesley most popular?
In which U.S. states is Wesley most popular?
Is Wesley a unisex name?
What names go well with Wesley?
About the name Wesley
Wesley is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 253K births in the dataset. Wesley's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #54. Use the chart and map above to compare Wesley's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "W" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.