Name meaning & stats
Wesley
Wesley means “western meadow”. 215,008 US babies since 1940, peak 2025. Notable Wesleys are 2.1× over-represented as basketball players.
What it means
“western meadow”
Well documented
Originally a surname.
In US birth records
Peak year: 2025
215,008 US babies were named Wesley between 1940 and 2025.
Where Wesleys end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball player | 2.1× | High · 30 people |
| Politician | 1.2× | Medium · 21 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.2× | Medium · 17 people |
| Actor | 0.9× | Medium · 11 people |
Among notable men who are basketball players, Wesleys show up 2.1× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Wesley has a surprise career: 1.4×
Spelling family
Wesley is the main spelling
- Wesley 99%
- Wesly 1%
- Wessley <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 2025)