Wesley

At a Glance: Name: Wesley – 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

Phonetic: WES-lee   IPA: /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.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name 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.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Beckham
• Clayton
• Mason
• Nash
• Bradley
• Brandon

FAQ

What does the name Wesley mean?

Western clearing or meadow. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wesley)

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.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name