Meaning: Its source is an Old English expression meaning "Western meadow."

Languages: This boy's name is used in English.

Nicknames: Wes

Alternative Spellings: Wesly and Wessley

Variant Forms: Westley

Popularity: The name Wesley ranked 183rd in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 171st in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name first made its appearance on state popularity lists before 1993, but is becoming less commonly used. In some cases, it has fallen off the lists altogether.

Narrative: This was the surname of brothers John and Charles Wesley, 18th-century founders of Methodism, a Protestant Christian denomination. It was first used as a given name in their honor during their lifetimes.

Meaning: Its source is an Old English expression meaning "Western meadow."

Popularity: The name Wesley ranked 3455th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: This was the surname of brothers John and Charles Wesley, 18th-century founders of Methodism, a Protestant Christian denomination. It was first used as a given name in their honor during their lifetimes.