Wesley
Boy name · #52 in 2025 · Very well-known
How old is the name Wesley? In official American birth records, Wesley has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 5,578 baby boys were named Wesley, placing it at #52 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #126, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 323 boys born in 2025 was named Wesley.
The 145-year story
Wesley first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 123 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 5,578 babies and a rank of #52. 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 Wesley per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wesley against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wesley in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Wesley is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Wesley is most common
Geography matters for names, and Wesley is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Wesley is most common in WY (15 per 1,000), NH (13 per 1,000), ME (12 per 1,000), VT (12 per 1,000), ND (8.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 3.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Wesley is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Wesley
Statistically, parents drawn to Wesley tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Weston, Waylon, Lorenzo, Miles, and Beau.
WestonWaylonLorenzoMilesBeauRomanMicahWalker
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wesley | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,578 | #52 |
| 2024 | 5,162 | #58 |
| 2023 | 4,555 | #69 |
| 2022 | 4,668 | #70 |
| 2021 | 4,216 | #85 |
| 2020 | 3,706 | #98 |
| 2019 | 3,764 | #99 |
| 2018 | 3,628 | #105 |
| 2017 | 3,577 | #111 |
| 2016 | 3,429 | #117 |
| 2015 | 3,233 | #126 |
| 2014 | 3,143 | #130 |
| 2013 | 2,837 | #139 |
| 2012 | 2,649 | #155 |
| 2011 | 2,476 | #156 |
| 2010 | 2,431 | #159 |
| 2009 | 2,211 | #176 |
| 2008 | 2,067 | #193 |
| 2007 | 2,064 | #195 |
| 2006 | 2,103 | #190 |
| 2005 | 2,113 | #189 |
| 2004 | 2,108 | #184 |
| 2003 | 2,123 | #184 |
| 2002 | 2,051 | #183 |
| 2001 | 2,028 | #184 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Wesley?
In official American birth records, the name Wesley first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 123 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Wesley a popular boy name?
Wesley ranked #52 among boys in 2025 with 5,578 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #126.
When was the name Wesley most popular?
Wesley peaked in 2025, when 5,578 American boys received the name (ranked #52 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Wesley?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 323 newborn American boys was named Wesley. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.