Baby Name Popularity Profile

Wesley

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Wesley.

✦ Western meadow 🌍 English nature traditional
National Rank (2025) #52
All-Time Peak Rank #52 Achieved 2025
Total U.S. Births 247,713 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 98.2% Boy / 1.8% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 5,578 births in 2025
💡 The Wesley Vibe: Considered a Rising Star. A high-velocity modern choice demonstrating rapid, sustained growth in recent registries.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Western meadow
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from Old English elements 'west' (west) and 'leah' (wood, clearing, meadow). It originated as a habitational surname.
Common Nicknames
Wes
Pronunciation: WES-lee
Themes & Categories
nature traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Wesley

According to SSA data, Wesley achieved its highest historical rank of #52 in 2025. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2025 with 5,578 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 72.5%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Wesley across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Fast Rising
10-Year Shift +72.5% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 5,578 births in 2025
Years in Top 100 18 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Very Stable
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 1,186
1890s: 1,365
1900s: 1,693
1910s: 7,603
1920s: 12,861
1930s: 10,937
1940s: 12,465
1950s: 18,074
1960s: 18,807
1970s: 23,252
1980s: 31,088
1990s: 28,246
2000s: 21,084
2010s: 31,167
2020s: 27,885

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Wes-ley
Letter Count 6 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 25.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 25.7% of SSA names. Starts with W, a letter used by only 1.1% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Wesley.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Alaska
Top States Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Alaska #83 582 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii #78 1,284 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #26 1,252 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #19 1,596 2025 +90.3% Growth
Wyoming #12 545 1984 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #13 3,300 2025 +123.2% Growth
Oklahoma #77 5,333 1977 +22.7% Growth
Oregon #36 3,395 2022 +10.1% Growth
South Dakota #56 1,252 1927 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #18 1,244 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #61 3,856 1977 +29.7% Growth
Tennessee #69 7,555 1977 +50.0% Growth
Georgia #78 9,748 1977 +48.9% Growth
Kansas #47 3,482 2022 +38.3% Growth
North Carolina #51 9,437 1977 +80.6% Growth
Alabama #83 6,035 1977 +35.6% Growth
Virginia #47 7,334 2025 +30.8% Growth
Mississippi #69 4,040 1981 +24.1% Growth
Colorado #26 3,811 2025 +68.5% Growth
Kentucky #61 5,511 1977 +41.2% Growth
Washington #33 5,081 2025 +21.2% Growth
New Hampshire #9 960 2025 +62.9% Growth
Nebraska #17 2,230 2025 +66.7% Growth
South Carolina #51 4,392 2025 +118.4% Growth
Missouri #36 6,304 2025 +69.9% Growth
Minnesota #16 5,160 2025 +43.5% Growth
Maine #6 1,223 2025 +21.1% Growth
Iowa #31 3,573 1977 +55.3% Growth
West Virginia #43 2,471 1977 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #49 4,767 1977 +18.3% Growth
Nevada #81 872 2025 +48.0% Growth
Texas #98 19,503 2025 +74.0% Growth
Florida #83 8,660 2025 +90.8% Growth
New Mexico #114 1,318 1977 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #78 2,983 2024 +50.0% Growth
Indiana #39 5,773 2025 +94.4% Growth
Maryland #60 3,669 2021 +23.0% Growth
Wisconsin #14 4,688 2025 +56.4% Growth
Delaware #38 472 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #31 10,378 2025 +62.3% Growth
Vermont #24 377 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #21 8,079 2025 +42.5% Growth
District of Columbia #54 940 1955 Insufficient historical volume
California #90 19,482 2025 +42.8% Growth
Connecticut #59 2,073 2023 +48.7% Growth
Illinois #63 9,105 1977 +41.7% Growth
Pennsylvania #47 9,394 2024 +36.6% Growth
Massachusetts #23 4,135 2025 +47.9% Growth
New Jersey #83 3,686 2025 +59.2% Growth
New York #66 9,402 2025 +38.3% Growth
Rhode Island #20 372 2025 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Hudson Cooper August Adriel Eithan Archer Callum Graham Emmett Jasper
👧 Sister Suggestions
Lainey Eloise Millie Margot Parker Hallie Ellie Daisy Maeve Josie

🔗 Names You Might Also Like

Based on statistical similarity and shared characteristics with Wesley:

Demographic & Volume Peers
Weston Waylon Walker Westley Whitley Wilder Westly Worley Wylder Westin
More nature Names
Browse all nature names → Browse English names →

🗂️ Browse More Baby Names

Explore our name indexes and data tracks:

👦 Top Boy Names → 2-Syllable Names → 6-Letter Names → More Rising Star Names → English Origin Names → nature Names → Names Peaking in 2025 → 🗺️ Regional State Data →