Wesley

#1,911 for girls in 2025, 101 births · #52 for boys in 2025, 5,578 births
Given to boys 98.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
2025 · 5,578 births
Debut · boys
123 births
In top 100 · boys
18 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
247,713
since 1880

Wesley over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201928boysat peak
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#1,911101#525,578
2024#2,17887#585,162
2023#1,780114#694,555
2022#1,638129#704,668
2021#1,577133#854,216
2020#1,96596#983,706
2019#2,65165#993,764
2018#2,21783#1053,628
2017#2,77961#1113,577
2016#2,69764#1173,429
2015#3,53344#1263,233
2014#3,48645#1303,143
2013#5,01327#1392,837
2012#4,95728#1552,649
2011#4,35333#1562,476
2010#5,97722#1592,431
2009#5,09728#1762,211
2008#7,40817#1932,067
2007#4,38034#1952,064
2006#5,23326#1902,103
2005#7,13816#1892,113
2004#3,89836#1842,108
2003#4,30730#1842,123
2002#6,12918#1832,051
2001#5,82219#1842,028
2000#6,20817#1712,216
1999#3,89530#1682,207
1998#4,63623#1522,242
1997#3,71630#1442,358
1996#2,84942#1372,616
1995#2,78843#1292,798
1994#3,37233#1183,031
1993#2,28956#1133,172
1992#2,38654#1113,239
1991#2,79042#1063,267
1990#2,57146#1073,316
1989#2,14757#983,457
1988#2,03258#923,478
1987#2,09852#923,244
1986#2,00354#963,043
1985#2,17248#943,043
1984#2,01850#1012,799
1983#2,36040#1012,788
1982#2,11548#983,031
1981#2,77432#993,040
1980#2,27843#953,165
1979#2,38739#893,237
1978#2,51634#833,306
1977#2,71530#664,302
1976#3,09523#1192,147
1975#3,15522#1581,531
1974#3,00823#1651,467
1973#3,48118#1581,554
1972#2,90323#1541,690
1971#3,16621#1511,959
1970#3,11021#1522,059
1969#3,19918#1571,861
1968#3,05718#1651,642
1967#3,34015#1671,587
1966#4,19810#1571,803
1965#4,20210#1601,860
1964#3,37915#1621,969
1963#2,86419#1572,100
1962#2,66821#1621,963
1961#3,46014#1632,002
1960#4,18410#1642,020
1959#2,98016#1602,000
1958#4,1939#1601,954
1957#2,65119#1601,993
1956#3,32113#1572,004
1955#3,77810#1511,925
1954#3,15713#1551,844
1953#2,51618#1591,733
1952#3,20112#1651,594
1951#2,57716#1711,500
1950#4,3157#1651,527
1949#2,51416#1661,406
1948#2,25519#1691,336
1947#3,06112#1631,459
1946#2,59714#1671,248
1945#2,59812#1621,107
1944#3,3788#1591,169
1943#2,25116#1551,267
1942#1,98119#1551,253
1941#2,01817#1581,091
1940#2,02916#1521,129
1939#2,9229#1461,113
1938#3,8476#1501,074
1937#2,10115#1461,065
1936#2,38612#1451,061
1935#2,30513#1481,040
1934#2,18714#1421,118
1933#3,4067#1471,030
1932#2,49012#1441,135
1931#2,10515#1431,115
1930#2,20215#1421,186
1929#2,92110#1431,182
1928#2,19416#1431,181
1927#3,5618#1341,324
1926#3,04610#1311,320
1925#2,77812#1351,265
1924#3,14410#1311,347
1923#2,73212#1251,379
1922#3,15210#1271,287
1921#3,4009#1271,332
1920#2,73112#1291,244
1919#3,2199#1351,099
1918#2,10217#1371,145
1917#3,0929#1361,014
1916#3,5527#1351,026
1915#3,1348#133990
1914#2,8767#131789
1913#2,1649#133585
1912#2,6346#134485
1911#2,4635#131261
1910#1,9357#152209
1909—#136197
1908—#135185
1907—#125191
1906—#135155
1905—#123174
1904—#127166
1903—#126153
1902—#133145
1901—#115146
1900—#127181
1899—#134119
1898—#123151
1897—#134121
1896—#120145
1895—#112156
1894—#113149
1893—#119136
1892—#120142
1891—#120115
1890#1,3385#117131
1889—#144101
1888—#113147
1887—#116115
1886—#120121
1885—#128108
1884—#121120
1883—#122104
1882—#101145
1881—#117102
1880—#109123
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Wesley was already there! It came in at #109, and was given to 123 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1894, when fewer than 150 boys a year got the name.

Where Wesley is popular in 1928

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedAKMaine: #101 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 482 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedNHWashington: #84 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 381 boysWAIdaho: #108 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 442 boysIDMontana: #74 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 289 boysMTNorth Dakota: #84 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 330 boysNDMinnesota: #96 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 476 boysMNIllinois: #157 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 1,201 boysILWisconsin: #110 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 669 boysWIMichigan: #113 for boys · 56 births · 1 in 746 boysMINew York: #142 for boys · 73 births · 1 in 1,340 boysNYMassachusetts: #131 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,508 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedRIOregon: #72 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 283 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedNVWyoming: #80 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 321 boysWYSouth Dakota: #73 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 250 boysSDIowa: #131 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 721 boysIAIndiana: #181 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,597 boysINOhio: #177 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 1,593 boysOHPennsylvania: #136 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 1,313 boysPANew Jersey: #139 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,278 boysNJConnecticut: #122 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,082 boysCTCalifornia: #123 for boys · 59 births · 1 in 636 boysCAUtah: #109 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 442 boysUTColorado: #127 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 616 boysCONebraska: #115 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 505 boysNEMissouri: #166 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,212 boysMOKentucky: #210 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,606 boysKYWest Virginia: #143 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 898 boysWVVirginia: #107 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 611 boysVAMaryland: #122 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 971 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedDEArizona: #152 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 703 boysAZNew Mexico: #185 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 738 boysNMKansas: #119 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 593 boysKSArkansas: #204 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,297 boysARTennessee: #162 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,209 boysTNNorth Carolina: #166 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 1,011 boysNCSouth Carolina: #130 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 798 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #100 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 448 boysOKLouisiana: #176 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 960 boysLAMississippi: #174 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,108 boysMSAlabama: #159 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,007 boysALGeorgia: #129 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 740 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedHITexas: #172 for boys · 67 births · 1 in 866 boysTXFlorida: #122 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 623 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Oregon#72 · 1 in 283
  2. South Dakota#73 · 1 in 250
  3. Montana#74 · 1 in 289
  4. Wyoming#80 · 1 in 321
  5. North Dakota#84 · 1 in 330

Best ever in a state: #6 in Vermont, 2021.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oregon#72201 in 283
South Dakota#73231 in 250
Montana#74141 in 289
Wyoming#8051 in 321
North Dakota#84191 in 330
Washington#84251 in 381
Minnesota#96431 in 476
Oklahoma#100511 in 448
Maine#101131 in 482
Virginia#107371 in 611
Idaho#10881 in 442
Utah#109111 in 442
Wisconsin#110371 in 669
Michigan#113561 in 746
Nebraska#115231 in 505
Kansas#119251 in 593
Connecticut#122111 in 1,082
Florida#122211 in 623
Maryland#122131 in 971
California#123591 in 636
Colorado#127141 in 616
Georgia#129381 in 740
South Carolina#130231 in 798
Iowa#131271 in 721
Massachusetts#131221 in 1,508
Pennsylvania#136641 in 1,313
New Jersey#139231 in 1,278
New York#142731 in 1,340
West Virginia#143201 in 898
Arizona#15261 in 703
Illinois#157481 in 1,201
Alabama#159271 in 1,007
Tennessee#162201 in 1,209
Missouri#166231 in 1,212
North Carolina#166341 in 1,011
Texas#172671 in 866
Mississippi#174181 in 1,108
Louisiana#176201 in 960
Ohio#177331 in 1,593
Indiana#181161 in 1,597
New Mexico#18561 in 738
Arkansas#204131 in 1,297
Kentucky#210161 in 1,606
Alaska———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Wesley
Momentum · boys
Rising
  • 6 spots since 2024 (#58 → #52)
  • 46 spots since 2020 (#98 → #52)
  • 74 spots since 2015 (#126 → #52)
  • Biggest jump: 53 spots in 1977 (#119 → #66)
  • Biggest drop: 31 spots in 1889 (#113 → #144)
Rise & fade · boys
145 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 2025 at #52 (5,578 births)
  • Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 18 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 18 yrs · run 2019–2025
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 306
  • Highest: 1 in 306 boys born in 2025 were named Wesley (0.33%)
Era · boys
The 2010s
  • 12.6% of all boys named Wesley (31,167) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s1,186#101 (1882)#119
1890s1,365#112 (1895)#121
1900s1,693#115 (1901)#128
1910s7,603#131 (1914)#136
1920s12,861#125 (1923)#133
1930s10,937#142 (1930)#145
1940s12,465#152 (1940)#161
1950s18,074#151 (1955)#160
1960s18,807#157 (1963)#161
1970s23,252#66 (1977)#130
1980s31,088#92 (1988)#97
1990s28,246#106 (1991)#129
2000s21,084#171 (2000)#185
2010s31,167#99 (2019)#130
2020s27,885#52 (2025)#72

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Wesley in 1928

girls
#2,194
16 births · 1 in 72,082 girls
boys
#143
1,181 births · 1 in 938 boys

Top girls' names in 1928

  1. #1Mary66,871
  2. #2Betty36,083
  3. #3Dorothy33,733
  4. #4Helen22,937
  5. #5Margaret20,295
  6. #6Ruth17,859
  7. #7Doris16,575
  8. #8Barbara14,872
  9. #9Virginia14,500
  10. #10Shirley14,215
  11. #2,194Wesley16

Top boys' names in 1928

  1. #1Robert60,701
  2. #2John53,760
  3. #3James52,752
  4. #4William49,118
  5. #5Charles31,243
  6. #6Richard28,793
  7. #7Donald25,704
  8. #8George24,391
  9. #9Joseph22,322
  10. #10Edward18,492
  11. #143Wesley1,181
More about 1928

girls

1,153,318 girls got a published name in 1928; 1 in 72,082 of them was named Wesley, which outranked 59.7% of the 5,440 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Wesley
  1. #2,094Yukiko17
  2. #2,094Zettie17
  3. #2,094Zulema17
  4. #2,194Wesley16
  5. #2,194Adriana16
  6. #2,194Arlyn16
  7. #2,194Arnita16
  8. #2,284Akiko15
  9. #2,284Allegra15
  10. #2,284Andree15

Tied with 89 names at #2,194; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1927
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,165Jeanine#3,053 → #888
  2. ↑ 1,368Joline#2,256 → #888
  3. ↑ 1,101Lorelei#2,095 → #994
  4. ↑ 1,063Jeannine#1,384 → #321
  5. ↑ 859Romona#1,456 → #597
Fallers
  1. ↓ 860Valencia#924 → #1,784
  2. ↓ 547Kazuko#955 → #1,502
  3. ↓ 386Matilde#924 → #1,310
  4. ↓ 368Glendora#747 → #1,115
  5. ↓ 366Hilma#924 → #1,290

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,107,613 boys got a published name in 1928; 1 in 938 of them was named Wesley, which outranked 97.0% of the 4,723 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Wesley
  1. #140Nicholas1,216
  2. #141Duane1,212
  3. #142Sidney1,206
  4. #143Wesley1,181
  5. #144Morris1,157
  6. #145Luther1,153
  7. #146Franklin1,103
Biggest movers since 1927
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,009Fidencio#1,959 → #950
  2. ↑ 766Hoover#1,128 → #362
  3. ↑ 700Reyes#1,692 → #992
  4. ↑ 441Arlen#1,227 → #786
  5. ↑ 392Arland#1,372 → #980
Fallers
  1. ↓ 2,975Shoji#722 → #3,697
  2. ↓ 529Alvan#951 → #1,480
  3. ↓ 418Watson#964 → #1,382
  4. ↓ 412Judge#911 → #1,323
  5. ↓ 363Donato#990 → #1,353

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1928 →