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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201952boysat 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 1952

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedAKMaine: #209 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,979 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedNHWashington: #154 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,151 boysWAIdaho: #114 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 556 boysIDMontana: #101 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 550 boysMTNorth Dakota: #119 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 693 boysNDMinnesota: #97 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 619 boysMNIllinois: #163 for boys · 72 births · 1 in 1,397 boysILWisconsin: #202 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 2,834 boysWIMichigan: #178 for boys · 56 births · 1 in 1,546 boysMINew York: #226 for boys · 59 births · 1 in 2,793 boysNYMassachusetts: #226 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 5,735 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedRIOregon: #114 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 662 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #70 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 380 boysSDIowa: #147 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,103 boysIAIndiana: #175 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 1,482 boysINOhio: #174 for boys · 63 births · 1 in 1,610 boysOHPennsylvania: #150 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 1,550 boysPANew Jersey: #156 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,996 boysNJConnecticut: #123 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,355 boysCTCalifornia: #150 for boys · 138 births · 1 in 1,017 boysCAUtah: #143 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 850 boysUTColorado: #125 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 719 boysCONebraska: #119 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 743 boysNEMissouri: #176 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 1,432 boysMOKentucky: #148 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 1,049 boysKYWest Virginia: #183 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,485 boysWVVirginia: #147 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 822 boysVAMaryland: #165 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,382 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Wesley, so not publishedDEArizona: #153 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 790 boysAZNew Mexico: #192 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,106 boysNMKansas: #129 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 751 boysKSArkansas: #183 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,261 boysARTennessee: #191 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,576 boysTNNorth Carolina: #156 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 1,004 boysNCSouth Carolina: #216 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,582 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #185 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,602 boysDCOklahoma: #100 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 512 boysOKLouisiana: #173 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 940 boysLAMississippi: #136 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 739 boysMSAlabama: #173 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 1,143 boysALGeorgia: #148 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 865 boysGAHawaii: #39 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 152 boysHITexas: #183 for boys · 114 births · 1 in 1,009 boysTXFlorida: #139 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 807 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Hawaii#39 · 1 in 152
  2. South Dakota#70 · 1 in 380
  3. Minnesota#97 · 1 in 619
  4. Oklahoma#100 · 1 in 512
  5. Montana#101 · 1 in 550

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#39441 in 152
South Dakota#70221 in 380
Minnesota#97611 in 619
Oklahoma#100471 in 512
Montana#101131 in 550
Idaho#114131 in 556
Oregon#114281 in 662
Nebraska#119211 in 743
North Dakota#119111 in 693
Connecticut#123161 in 1,355
Colorado#125251 in 719
Kansas#129301 in 751
Mississippi#136391 in 739
Florida#139441 in 807
Utah#143131 in 850
Iowa#147281 in 1,103
Virginia#147501 in 822
Georgia#148541 in 865
Kentucky#148341 in 1,049
California#1501381 in 1,017
Pennsylvania#150761 in 1,550
Arizona#153151 in 790
Washington#154261 in 1,151
New Jersey#156261 in 1,996
North Carolina#156531 in 1,004
Illinois#163721 in 1,397
Maryland#165201 in 1,382
Alabama#173341 in 1,143
Louisiana#173401 in 940
Ohio#174631 in 1,610
Indiana#175341 in 1,482
Missouri#176311 in 1,432
Michigan#178561 in 1,546
Arkansas#183171 in 1,261
Texas#1831141 in 1,009
West Virginia#183161 in 1,485
District of Columbia#18591 in 1,602
Tennessee#191251 in 1,576
New Mexico#192101 in 1,106
Wisconsin#202151 in 2,834
Maine#20951 in 1,979
South Carolina#216191 in 1,582
Massachusetts#22691 in 5,735
New York#226591 in 2,793
Alaska———
Delaware———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

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 1952

girls
#3,201
12 births · 1 in 154,528 girls
boys
#165
1,594 births · 1 in 1,219 boys

Top girls' names in 1952

  1. #1Linda67,082
  2. #2Mary65,629
  3. #3Patricia53,101
  4. #4Deborah49,811
  5. #5Susan41,348
  6. #6Barbara39,864
  7. #7Nancy31,739
  8. #8Karen28,956
  9. #9Debra26,832
  10. #10Sandra26,097
  11. #3,201Wesley12

Top boys' names in 1952

  1. #1James87,065
  2. #2Robert86,588
  3. #3John83,140
  4. #4Michael79,037
  5. #5David71,752
  6. #6William63,039
  7. #7Richard58,350
  8. #8Thomas48,647
  9. #9Charles38,866
  10. #10Gary38,754
  11. #165Wesley1,594
More about 1952

girls

1,854,335 girls got a published name in 1952; 1 in 154,528 of them was named Wesley, which outranked 49.9% of the 6,389 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Wesley
  1. #3,040Willena13
  2. #3,040Windy13
  3. #3,040Zaida13
  4. #3,201Wesley12
  5. #3,201Alan12
  6. #3,201Alissa12
  7. #3,201Altagracia12
  8. #3,372Aldona11
  9. #3,372Alline11
  10. #3,372Andrena11

Tied with 170 names at #3,201; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1951
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,501Pandora#3,284 → #783
  2. ↑ 368Lise#1,314 → #946
  3. ↑ 353Vanessa#656 → #303
  4. ↑ 334Dorinda#1,170 → #836
  5. ↑ 332Mitzi#928 → #596
Fallers
  1. ↓ 380Rhona#988 → #1,368
  2. ↓ 342Sharleen#765 → #1,107
  3. ↓ 270Enid#908 → #1,178
  4. ↓ 237Allyn#988 → #1,225
  5. ↓ 230Sheron#908 → #1,138

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

boys

1,943,633 boys got a published name in 1952; 1 in 1,219 of them was named Wesley, which outranked 96.1% of the 4,257 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Wesley
  1. #162Manuel1,661
  2. #163Jimmie1,642
  3. #164Kent1,618
  4. #165Wesley1,594
  5. #165Harvey1,594
  6. #167Lynn1,592
  7. #168Bill1,588
  8. #169Milton1,576

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1951
Risers
  1. ↑ 753Darren#1,598 → #845
  2. ↑ 372Robby#1,242 → #870
  3. ↑ 355Cris#1,218 → #863
  4. ↑ 301Ethan#1,295 → #994
  5. ↑ 280Adan#1,150 → #870
Fallers
  1. ↓ 477Ottis#984 → #1,461
  2. ↓ 408Wayland#915 → #1,323
  3. ↓ 330Mcarthur#806 → #1,136
  4. ↓ 305Arvin#963 → #1,268
  5. ↓ 285Levon#881 → #1,166

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

See the top 100 for 1952 →