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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Western clearing or meadow
- Origin
- Old English (place name/surname)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- WES-lee
Wesley started out as an Old English place name and surname, built from words meaning a western clearing or meadow. It's a boy's name with a classic, timeless feel and an outdoorsy edge — fitting for a name rooted in open land. It's pronounced WES-lee.
Meaning & Origin of Wesley
Meaning: Western clearing or meadow.
Origin: Old English (place name/surname).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Wesley
WES-leeIPA /ˈwɛsli/
Popularity of Wesley
In 2024, Wesley ranked #58 on the SSA list with 5,144 boys given the name — and across the full 1880-2024 record, that's the highest it's ever ranked, making 2024 its peak year so far.
Names Like Wesley
These names share Wesley’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Wesley mean?
Western clearing or meadow. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Wesley?
Wesley is pronounced WES-lee (IPA: /ˈwɛsli/).
Is Wesley a popular name right now?
Wesley is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #58 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Wesley Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Wesley, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Wesley? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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