Wes
Boy name · #715 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Wes? In official American birth records, Wes has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Wes ranks #715 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 376 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1259, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,787 boys born in 2025 was named Wes.
The 145-year story
Wes first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 376 babies and a rank of #715. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Wes per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wes against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wes in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Wes is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Wes is most common
Geography matters for names, and Wes is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Wes is most common in UT (0.9 per 1,000), MA (0.6 per 1,000), WI (0.5 per 1,000), MN (0.4 per 1,000), PA (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Wes is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Wes
Statistically, parents drawn to Wes tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jones, Aries, Idris, Mac, and Ames.
JonesAriesIdrisMacAmesWestynOziasWest
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wes | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 376 | #715 |
| 2024 | 346 | #743 |
| 2023 | 310 | #799 |
| 2022 | 315 | #797 |
| 2021 | 268 | #866 |
| 2020 | 216 | #986 |
| 2019 | 217 | #981 |
| 2018 | 191 | #1059 |
| 2017 | 180 | #1086 |
| 2016 | 160 | #1183 |
| 2015 | 143 | #1259 |
| 2014 | 122 | #1389 |
| 2013 | 122 | #1376 |
| 2012 | 94 | #1637 |
| 2011 | 83 | #1755 |
| 2010 | 85 | #1760 |
| 2009 | 66 | #2077 |
| 2008 | 75 | #1916 |
| 2007 | 56 | #2304 |
| 2006 | 66 | #2010 |
| 2005 | 49 | #2365 |
| 2004 | 39 | #2697 |
| 2003 | 37 | #2674 |
| 2002 | 33 | #2817 |
| 2001 | 33 | #2797 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Wes?
In official American birth records, the name Wes first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Wes a popular boy name?
Wes ranked #715 among boys in 2025 with 376 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1259.
When was the name Wes most popular?
Wes peaked in 2025, when 376 American boys received the name (ranked #715 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Wes?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,787 newborn American boys was named Wes. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.