How to say it
WES · ley
ˈwɛs.li
Masculine
Wesley
Western meadow
What it means
Old English place name, west ('west') + lēah ('meadow, clearing'). The surname of John and Charles Wesley, founders of Methodism, made it a first name in honor of the movement.
Wesley comes from an Old English place name meaning 'western meadow' (west + lēah). It stayed a surname until John Wesley (1703-1791) and his brother Charles, the founders of Methodism, made it famous; Methodist families in the 19th-century US used Wesley as a first name to honor the movement. Wesley Snipes and the Princess Bride's Westley (the same name spelled differently) gave it cultural anchors through the late 20th century. It's been in the US top 200 since 2010. Wes is the universal short, often used as a given name in its own right.
How to spell Wesley
The standard spelling is Wesley. Common variants include Westley, Wes, but Wesley is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #52 in 2025, currently #52 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Wes is the universal short and a fully separate given name.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- John Wesley 18th-century English clergyman, founder of Methodism
- Wesley Snipes American actor, Blade and White Men Can't Jump
- Westley (Princess Bride) Cary Elwes's farm-boy hero, 'As you wish.'
Spelling variants
- Westley
- Wes
Names with the same feeling
See Wesley from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Wesley mean?
- Old English place name, west ('west') + lēah ('meadow, clearing'). The surname of John and Charles Wesley, founders of Methodism, made it a first name in honor of the movement.
- What does Wesley mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Wesley means "Western meadow." Wesley comes from an Old English place name meaning 'western meadow' (west + lēah). It stayed a surname until John Wesley (1703-1791) and his brother Charles, the founders of Methodism, made it famous; Methodist families in the 19th-century US used Wesley as a first name to honor the movement. Wesley Snipes and the Princess Bride's Westley (the same name spelled differently) gave it cultural anchors through the late 20th century. It's been in the US top 200 since 2010. Wes is the universal short, often used as a given name in its own right.
- How do you pronounce Wesley?
- Wesley is pronounced ˈwɛs.li. Say it as WES-ley, with the stress on the "wes" syllable.
- How do you spell Wesley?
- The standard spelling is Wesley. Common spelling variants include Westley, Wes.
- Is Wesley a boy or girl name?
- Wesley is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Wesley?
- Wesley ranked #52 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.