Wesley

Heart
English
"western meadow"

Wesley Origin and Meaning

The name Wesley is a boy's name of English origin meaning "western meadow".

Wesley is one of a group of W-starting surname names reminiscent of the Old West that are making a comeback -- though it's not as well used as it was in the 1970s, when he ranked as high as Number 66.

Many boys given this English place name in the past were done so to honor the founder of Methodism, John Wesley and his influential brother Charles, who probably came from one of the various towns in England called Westley. The use of the appellation as a first name began during their lifetime, but its use has spread independent of its religious associations.

Two well known bearers of the name are retired general and one-time presidential hopeful Wesley Clark and actor Wesley Snipes. A pair of movie directors known by their nicknames were born as Wesley: Wes Anderson and Wes Craven, while jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery was christened John Leslie. Many people will associated the name with John Wesley Hardin, celebrated by both Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan in song.

Wesley Crusher is a character from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and, more prominently, in Angel.

# 70 in the US

Wesley Rank in US Top 1000

# 129 on Nameberry

Wesley Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Wesley Popularity

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Famous People Named Wesley

  • Wesley "Wes" StudiAmerican actor
  • Wesley Kanne ClarkU.S. Army general
  • Wesley Trent SnipesAmerican actor
  • Wesley Cook "Wes" BentleyAmerican actor
  • Wesley Wales "Wes" AndersonAmerican screenwriter and director
  • Wesley Carter "Wes" WelkerAmerican NFL football player
  • Wesley Earl "Wes" CravenAmerican film director
  • John Wesley "Wes" ChathamAmerican actor
  • Wesley WoodyardAmerican NFL football player
  • Wesley SneijderDutch footballer
  • Wesley Strombergmusician of American band Emblem3
  • Wesley Chapmanson of reality TV personality Dog the Bounty Hunter
  • Wesley BurrowesIrish playwright and screenwriter
  • Wesley MoodieSouth African tennis player
  • Wesley MerrittU.S. Civil War general
  • Wesley Barbasa SoFilipino,American chess champion
  • Wesley "Wes" ChanAmerican YouTube filmmaker of Wong Fu Productions
  • Wesley JonathanAmerican actor
  • John and Charles Wesleyfounders of the Methodist Church
  • Wesley Alan "Wes" Johnsonpersonality on YouTube channel "Smosh Games"
  • Wesley Taylormusical theatre actor
  • Wesley Phillip Dirks (b. 2018)son of American professional surfer Bethany Hamilton, brother to Tobias
  • Wesley James Fulmer(b. 2018) Son of Ned Fulmer of BuzzFeed's "try guys" and wife Ariel Fulmer
  • Weslie Renaedaughter of dancers Allison Holker and Stephen "tWitch" Boss

Wesley in Pop Culture

  • Wesley Crushercharacter on TV's "Star Trek: The Next Generation"
  • Wesley Pegdencharacter from "Last of the Summer Wine"
  • Wesley WyndamPryce, character from the American TV series "Angel"
  • Wesley Gibsoncharacter from the movie "Wanted"
  • Wesley SnipesLiz Lemon love interest on "30 Rock"
  • Wesley Hodgescharacter from American TV show "The Torkelsons"
  • Wesleycharacter in "Mew Mew Power"
  • Wesley Owenscharacter from "Mr. Belvedere"
  • Wesley Rushfrom "The DUFF"
  • Westleycharacter from "The Princess Bride"
  • Dr. Wesley "Wes" Maxfieldcharacter on TV's "The Vampire Diaries"
  • Wesley Stringercharacter from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"
  • Wesley Wizardcharacter on Bee and Puppycat