Fun Facts About the Name Wesley
- Back among the favorites: Wesley returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 7 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 250 thousand babies named Wesley: U.S. records list 250,939 babies given the name Wesley from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,256 girls received the name Wesley - about 1 girl for every 76 boys.
What Does the Name Wesley Mean?
Wesley is an English name of Old English origin, usually explained as "western meadow" or "west clearing." It comes from the place-name elements west, meaning "west" or "western," and lēah, an Old English word for a wood, clearing, or meadow. The name is habitational: it belongs first to one or more places in England called Wesley, and from those places it became a surname. The literal sense is "the western wood or clearing"; the familiar meaning "western meadow" reflects the range of lēah in English place names. As a given name, Wesley inherits its meaning from the surname rather than from a separate root.
Wesley Name History & Origins
Wesley began as an English place name and surname, not as a given name. The place name is formed from Old English west and lēah, a combination found in other English place names as well. The surname arose from one or more of these places and is recorded in medieval England.
In the 18th century, John Wesley (1703 - 1791), a founder of Methodism, and his brother Charles Wesley (1707 - 1788), a hymn writer, were among the best-known bearers of the surname. The given name Wesley later came into use in English-speaking countries. It is not a biblical name or the name of a traditional saint; its use as a first name rests on the surname and its historical associations.
How Popular is the Name Wesley?
Wesley recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. People named Amelia who were born during its modern resurgence from 2019 through 2025 turn 1-7 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,926 | 101 | 0.0063% |
| 2024 | #2,187 | 87 | 0.0054% |
| 2023 | #1,790 | 114 | 0.0071% |
| 2022 | #1,645 | 129 | 0.0079% |
| 2021 | #1,583 | 133 | 0.0081% |
| 2020 | #1,976 | 96 | 0.0059% |
| 2019 | #2,678 | 65 | 0.0039% |
| 2018 | #2,236 | 83 | 0.0049% |
| 2017 | #2,811 | 61 | 0.0035% |
| 2016 | #2,734 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 2015 | #3,589 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 2014 | #3,544 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 2013 | #5,139 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2012 | #5,107 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2011 | #4,458 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2010 | #6,171 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2009 | #5,219 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2008 | #7,731 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #4,472 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2006 | #5,370 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2005 | #7,479 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #3,986 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2003 | #4,415 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2002 | #6,382 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2001 | #6,060 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2000 | #6,473 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #3,965 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1998 | #4,792 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1997 | #3,812 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1996 | #2,898 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1995 | #2,843 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1994 | #3,444 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1993 | #2,321 | 56 | 0.0031% |
| 1992 | #2,430 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 1991 | #2,840 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1990 | #2,599 | 46 | 0.0024% |
| 1989 | #2,167 | 57 | 0.0031% |
| 1988 | #2,050 | 58 | 0.0033% |
| 1987 | #2,126 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 1986 | #2,024 | 54 | 0.0031% |
| 1985 | #2,202 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 1984 | #2,049 | 50 | 0.0030% |
| 1983 | #2,397 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1982 | #2,149 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 1981 | #2,846 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1980 | #2,305 | 43 | 0.0026% |
| 1979 | #2,429 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 1978 | #2,570 | 34 | 0.0022% |
| 1977 | #2,779 | 30 | 0.0020% |
| 1976 | #3,186 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1975 | #3,257 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1974 | #3,106 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1973 | #3,631 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1972 | #2,973 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1971 | #3,264 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1970 | #3,204 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1969 | #3,314 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1968 | #3,167 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1967 | #3,479 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #4,485 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #4,487 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,511 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #2,958 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1962 | #2,740 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #3,603 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1960 | #4,433 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #3,101 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #4,515 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #2,725 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #3,489 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #4,062 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #3,321 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1953 | #2,593 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1952 | #3,369 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1951 | #2,690 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1950 | #4,729 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #2,618 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1948 | #2,326 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1947 | #3,236 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #2,736 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #2,740 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1944 | #3,679 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1943 | #2,350 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1942 | #2,045 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1941 | #2,094 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1940 | #2,105 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1939 | #3,140 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1938 | #4,331 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #2,193 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1936 | #2,519 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #2,435 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1934 | #2,285 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1933 | #3,740 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #2,642 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #2,200 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1930 | #2,301 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1929 | #3,133 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1928 | #2,280 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #3,863 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #3,262 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #2,933 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1924 | #3,380 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1923 | #2,911 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1922 | #3,371 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1921 | #3,659 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1920 | #2,892 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1919 | #3,445 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #2,202 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1917 | #3,337 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1916 | #3,910 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #3,423 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1914 | #3,174 | 7 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #2,324 | 9 | 0.0014% |
| 1912 | #2,967 | 6 | 0.0011% |
| 1911 | #2,857 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1910 | #2,132 | 7 | 0.0018% |
| 1890 | #1,529 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #52 | 5,578 | 0.3266% |
| 2024 | #58 | 5,144 | 0.2999% |
| 2023 | #70 | 4,550 | 0.2663% |
| 2022 | #70 | 4,666 | 0.2675% |
| 2021 | #85 | 4,216 | 0.2412% |
| 2020 | #98 | 3,705 | 0.2148% |
| 2019 | #99 | 3,763 | 0.2098% |
| 2018 | #105 | 3,627 | 0.1998% |
| 2017 | #111 | 3,577 | 0.1933% |
| 2016 | #117 | 3,429 | 0.1807% |
| 2015 | #126 | 3,232 | 0.1687% |
| 2014 | #130 | 3,142 | 0.1636% |
| 2013 | #139 | 2,837 | 0.1500% |
| 2012 | #155 | 2,648 | 0.1396% |
| 2011 | #156 | 2,476 | 0.1304% |
| 2010 | #159 | 2,431 | 0.1267% |
| 2009 | #176 | 2,211 | 0.1115% |
| 2008 | #194 | 2,066 | 0.1013% |
| 2007 | #195 | 2,063 | 0.0994% |
| 2006 | #190 | 2,103 | 0.1023% |
| 2005 | #189 | 2,113 | 0.1058% |
| 2004 | #184 | 2,108 | 0.1062% |
| 2003 | #184 | 2,123 | 0.1075% |
| 2002 | #183 | 2,052 | 0.1057% |
| 2001 | #184 | 2,028 | 0.1044% |
| 2000 | #171 | 2,215 | 0.1128% |
| 1999 | #168 | 2,207 | 0.1149% |
| 1998 | #152 | 2,242 | 0.1173% |
| 1997 | #144 | 2,358 | 0.1251% |
| 1996 | #137 | 2,616 | 0.1381% |
| 1995 | #129 | 2,798 | 0.1470% |
| 1994 | #118 | 3,031 | 0.1569% |
| 1993 | #113 | 3,172 | 0.1617% |
| 1992 | #111 | 3,239 | 0.1622% |
| 1991 | #106 | 3,267 | 0.1617% |
| 1990 | #107 | 3,316 | 0.1614% |
| 1989 | #98 | 3,457 | 0.1728% |
| 1988 | #93 | 3,478 | 0.1817% |
| 1987 | #92 | 3,244 | 0.1738% |
| 1986 | #96 | 3,043 | 0.1652% |
| 1985 | #94 | 3,044 | 0.1647% |
| 1984 | #101 | 2,799 | 0.1551% |
| 1983 | #101 | 2,788 | 0.1555% |
| 1982 | #98 | 3,030 | 0.1670% |
| 1981 | #99 | 3,042 | 0.1698% |
| 1980 | #95 | 3,165 | 0.1774% |
| 1979 | #89 | 3,237 | 0.1880% |
| 1978 | #83 | 3,306 | 0.2013% |
| 1977 | #66 | 4,301 | 0.2617% |
| 1976 | #119 | 2,147 | 0.1368% |
| 1975 | #158 | 1,532 | 0.0981% |
| 1974 | #165 | 1,467 | 0.0933% |
| 1973 | #158 | 1,554 | 0.0997% |
| 1972 | #154 | 1,691 | 0.1043% |
| 1971 | #151 | 1,959 | 0.1108% |
| 1970 | #152 | 2,059 | 0.1108% |
| 1969 | #157 | 1,861 | 0.1041% |
| 1968 | #165 | 1,643 | 0.0945% |
| 1967 | #168 | 1,587 | 0.0910% |
| 1966 | #157 | 1,803 | 0.1011% |
| 1965 | #160 | 1,860 | 0.1000% |
| 1964 | #162 | 1,969 | 0.0988% |
| 1963 | #157 | 2,099 | 0.1034% |
| 1962 | #162 | 1,963 | 0.0949% |
| 1961 | #163 | 2,002 | 0.0943% |
| 1960 | #164 | 2,021 | 0.0948% |
| 1959 | #160 | 1,999 | 0.0937% |
| 1958 | #160 | 1,953 | 0.0920% |
| 1957 | #160 | 1,993 | 0.0924% |
| 1956 | #157 | 2,005 | 0.0948% |
| 1955 | #151 | 1,925 | 0.0935% |
| 1954 | #155 | 1,844 | 0.0904% |
| 1953 | #159 | 1,733 | 0.0879% |
| 1952 | #166 | 1,594 | 0.0820% |
| 1951 | #171 | 1,500 | 0.0797% |
| 1950 | #165 | 1,527 | 0.0853% |
| 1949 | #166 | 1,406 | 0.0793% |
| 1948 | #169 | 1,336 | 0.0761% |
| 1947 | #163 | 1,459 | 0.0797% |
| 1946 | #167 | 1,248 | 0.0768% |
| 1945 | #163 | 1,107 | 0.0823% |
| 1944 | #159 | 1,169 | 0.0858% |
| 1943 | #155 | 1,267 | 0.0888% |
| 1942 | #155 | 1,253 | 0.0907% |
| 1941 | #158 | 1,091 | 0.0888% |
| 1940 | #152 | 1,129 | 0.0974% |
| 1939 | #146 | 1,113 | 0.1006% |
| 1938 | #150 | 1,074 | 0.0968% |
| 1937 | #146 | 1,065 | 0.0998% |
| 1936 | #145 | 1,061 | 0.1023% |
| 1935 | #148 | 1,040 | 0.0999% |
| 1934 | #142 | 1,118 | 0.1083% |
| 1933 | #147 | 1,030 | 0.1039% |
| 1932 | #144 | 1,135 | 0.1087% |
| 1931 | #143 | 1,115 | 0.1072% |
| 1930 | #142 | 1,186 | 0.1081% |
| 1929 | #143 | 1,181 | 0.1098% |
| 1928 | #143 | 1,182 | 0.1067% |
| 1927 | #134 | 1,324 | 0.1175% |
| 1926 | #132 | 1,320 | 0.1189% |
| 1925 | #135 | 1,265 | 0.1134% |
| 1924 | #131 | 1,347 | 0.1189% |
| 1923 | #125 | 1,379 | 0.1258% |
| 1922 | #127 | 1,287 | 0.1183% |
| 1921 | #127 | 1,332 | 0.1209% |
| 1920 | #129 | 1,244 | 0.1169% |
| 1919 | #135 | 1,099 | 0.1121% |
| 1918 | #137 | 1,145 | 0.1130% |
| 1917 | #136 | 1,014 | 0.1096% |
| 1916 | #135 | 1,026 | 0.1153% |
| 1915 | #133 | 990 | 0.1167% |
| 1914 | #132 | 789 | 0.1205% |
| 1913 | #133 | 585 | 0.1141% |
| 1912 | #134 | 485 | 0.1128% |
| 1911 | #131 | 261 | 0.1155% |
| 1910 | #152 | 209 | 0.1076% |
| 1909 | #136 | 197 | 0.1201% |
| 1908 | #135 | 185 | 0.1199% |
| 1907 | #125 | 191 | 0.1301% |
| 1906 | #135 | 155 | 0.1164% |
| 1905 | #123 | 174 | 0.1315% |
| 1904 | #128 | 166 | 0.1296% |
| 1903 | #126 | 153 | 0.1283% |
| 1902 | #133 | 145 | 0.1182% |
| 1901 | #116 | 146 | 0.1371% |
| 1900 | #128 | 181 | 0.1203% |
| 1899 | #136 | 119 | 0.1120% |
| 1898 | #124 | 151 | 0.1231% |
| 1897 | #136 | 121 | 0.1073% |
| 1896 | #122 | 145 | 0.1213% |
| 1895 | #112 | 156 | 0.1329% |
| 1894 | #113 | 149 | 0.1287% |
| 1893 | #119 | 136 | 0.1211% |
| 1892 | #120 | 142 | 0.1164% |
| 1891 | #120 | 115 | 0.1136% |
| 1890 | #117 | 131 | 0.1180% |
| 1889 | #147 | 101 | 0.0913% |
| 1888 | #113 | 147 | 0.1216% |
| 1887 | #116 | 115 | 0.1134% |
| 1886 | #121 | 121 | 0.1092% |
| 1885 | #128 | 108 | 0.1002% |
| 1884 | #121 | 120 | 0.1049% |
| 1883 | #122 | 104 | 0.0994% |
| 1882 | #102 | 145 | 0.1275% |
| 1881 | #119 | 102 | 0.1013% |
| 1880 | #109 | 123 | 0.1113% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
