Wiley
Boy name · #1223 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
Wiley is currently the #1223 boy name in the United States — 165 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1307, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,909 boys born in 2025 was named Wiley.
Babies named Wiley per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Wiley first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 78 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 304 boys were named Wiley — good for #338 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wiley against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wiley in class?
Wiley scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Wiley is most common
Geography matters for names, and Wiley is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Wileys were NC (15), TN (12), CA (8), FL (8), IL (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Wiley
Statistically, parents drawn to Wiley tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Charley, Warner, Emory, Hartley, and Hardy.
CharleyWarnerEmoryHartleyHardyMonroeNoblePercy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wiley | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 165 | #1222 |
| 2024 | 181 | #1155 |
| 2023 | 186 | #1134 |
| 2022 | 179 | #1155 |
| 2021 | 197 | #1076 |
| 2020 | 166 | #1160 |
| 2019 | 157 | #1214 |
| 2018 | 121 | #1443 |
| 2017 | 122 | #1421 |
| 2016 | 126 | #1389 |
| 2015 | 135 | #1307 |
| 2014 | 120 | #1402 |
| 2013 | 117 | #1420 |
| 2012 | 111 | #1462 |
| 2011 | 87 | #1703 |
| 2010 | 103 | #1552 |
| 2009 | 99 | #1604 |
| 2008 | 98 | #1603 |
| 2007 | 77 | #1861 |
| 2006 | 101 | #1501 |
| 2005 | 87 | #1584 |
| 2004 | 75 | #1701 |
| 2003 | 77 | #1630 |
| 2002 | 66 | #1744 |
| 2001 | 61 | #1816 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Wiley a popular boy name?
Wiley ranked #1223 among boys in 2025 with 165 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1307.
When was the name Wiley most popular?
Wiley peaked in 1921, when 304 American boys received the name (ranked #338 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Wiley?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,909 newborn American boys was named Wiley. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.