Find out how popular the first name Wesley has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Wesley by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Wesley is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Wesley being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 4,539 male babies and 114 female babies born with the name Wesley.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 114 baby girls were named Wesley in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Wesley

The name Wesley is an English given name derived from the Old English words "west" and "leah," meaning "west meadow" or "western clearing." It originated as a surname in the 7th century, referring to someone who lived in a western meadow or clearing.

In the 9th century, the name was recorded as "Westlæh" in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of the earliest historical records of England. During the Middle Ages, the spelling evolved to "Westle" and "Westley" before settling on the modern form "Wesley."

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Wesley was Wesley of Dorchester, an English clergyman born around 1590. He served as the vicar of Dorchester, Dorset, and was known for his religious writings.

John Wesley (1703-1791), the founder of Methodism, is arguably the most famous person with the name Wesley. Born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, he played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and the evangelical revival movement.

Charles Wesley (1707-1788), the younger brother of John Wesley, was also a prominent figure in the Methodist movement. He is renowned for writing over 6,500 hymns, including popular ones like "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Christ the Lord is Risen Today."

Wesley Clair Mitchell (1874-1948) was an American economist and a leading figure in the development of empirical macroeconomics. He served as the president of the American Economic Association and made significant contributions to the study of business cycles.

Wesley Snipes (born in 1962) is an American actor best known for his roles in films such as "New Jack City," "White Men Can't Jump," and the "Blade" trilogy. He has received several awards and nominations for his acting career.

Wesley Autrey (born in 1957) is an American hero who gained national attention in 2007 when he saved a man who had fallen onto the subway tracks in New York City. His brave actions earned him numerous honors, including the prestigious Citizens Medal from President George W. Bush.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Wesley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Wesley, please contact us.

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