Wesley
How to say it: WES-lee · /ˈwɛsli/
From Old English 'west leah' meaning 'west meadow'. Associated with Methodist founder John Wesley.
Wesley was the 65th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 5,578 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 72% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #29 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #65 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 5,578 |
| Share of births | 1 in 588 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +72% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #29 |
| In France, 2025 | #479 among boys’ names, 85 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Wesley has stayed in steady use without ever dropping away. Now at its peak in the 2020s, it looks set to climb further over the next few years.
What goes with it
Soft and breathy in sound, it moves lightly. Wes offers a short form, while Everett shares its easy rhythm.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Wesley is about 1 in 25.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #479 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Wesley
- Wesley Sneijder (born 1984)Dutch association football player
- Wesley Snipes (born 1962)American actor
- Wesley Clark (born 1944)United States Army general and 2004 Democratic Party presidential candidate
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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