Wesley (name)
Wesley is a name with an Anglo-Saxon etymology. It is derived from the surname "Westlēah". The "Wes" portion of the name refers to the cardinal direction "West"; the "ley" portion is from "lēah", meaning a field, pasture, meadow, or other clearing in a forest. Thus, the name's origin refers to a "western lēah," or a field to the west.
The name was predominantly used as a surname until John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, inspired some parents to name their sons after him.
Surname
- The Wesley family, founders of Methodism and noted musicians, including:
- *Samuel Wesley (poet, died 1735), minister and Stuart poet
- *Samuel Wesley (poet, died 1739), or Samuel Wesley the Younger, son of Samuel
- *John Wesley, son of Samuel, the principal founder of the Methodist denomination of Protestant Christianity
- *Charles Wesley, son of Samuel, Methodist leader and prolific hymn writer
- *Charles Wesley junior, son of Charles, organist, composer
- *Samuel Wesley (composer, born 1766), son of Charles, organist, composer
- *Samuel Sebastian Wesley, son of the Samuel, organist, composer
- *Susanna Wesley, wife of Samuel Wesley
- Antoine Wesley, American football player
- Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, a British soldier and statesman best known for defeating Napoleon, was born as Arthur Wesley
- August Wesley, Finnish journalist, trade unionist and revolutionary
- Barry Wesley, American football player
- Bill Wesley, American politician
- Blake Wesley (ice hockey), former Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Blake Wesley (basketball), American basketball player
- Charles Wesley, Negro league baseball player
- Dante Wesley, American football player
- David Wesley, retired American basketball player
- Fred Wesley, American jazz trombonist
- Glen Wesley, former Canadian National Hockey League player
- John Wesley (guitarist), American musician
- Mary Wesley, British author
- Mia Wesley, American actress
- Paul Wesley, American actor
- Richard Wesley, African American playwright
- Rutina Wesley, American actress
- Dorsey Wesley, American record producer known as Megahertz
- Walt Wesley, former American basketball player
- William Wesley, American basketball player and agent
Given name
- Wesley (footballer, born 1980), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born 1981), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born 1987), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born 1989), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born 1990), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born 1992), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born 1995), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born April 1996), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born November 1996), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born 1999), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born April 2000), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born 2002), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley (footballer, born 2005), Brazilian footballer
- Wesley Addy, American actor
- Wesley Anderson, American film director
- Wesley Augusto Henn Marth, Brazilian football player
- Wesley T. Bishop, American politician
- Wesley G. Bush, American business executive
- Wesley Chesbro, California Assemblyman and Senator
- Wesley Chu, American science fiction writer
- Wesley Clark, American military general, and politician
- Wesley Correira, American mixed martial artist
- Wesley Cox, American basketball player
- Wesley Craven, American filmmaker
- Wesley Gasolina, Brazilian football player
- Wesley Duncan, American politician
- Wesley Eure, American actor
- Wesley Fofana (footballer), French footballer
- Wesley Fofana (rugby union), French rugby union player
- Wesley French, American football player
- Wesley Henderson, American architect, historian, and educator
- Wesley Huff, Canadian apologist and public speaker
- Wesley Klein, winner of the second series of Popstars
- Wesley Korir, Kenyan athlete and politician
- Wesley Matthews, American basketball player
- Wesley Morgan, Canadian actor and model
- Wesley Natã, Brazilian footballer
- Wes Nelson, English television personality and singer
- Wesley Pruden, American journalist
- Wesley Ira Purkey, American convicted murderer
- Wesley Santos, Brazilian footballer
- Wesley Scantlin, Guitarist and singer for Puddle Of Mudd
- Wesley Simms, co-founder of the Redfern All Blacks, an Indigenous Australian rugby league club
- Wesley Sneijder, Dutch footballer
- Wesley Snipes, American actor
- Wesley So, Filipino chess player
- Wesley Somerville, Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary
- Wesley Stromberg, American musician, member of band Emblem3
- Wes Studi, Native American actor and film producer
- Wesley Tann, American fashion designer
- Wesley Timoteo, Canadian soccer player
- Wesley Willis, American cult musician and painter
Fictional characters
- Wesley Dodds, the first of many DC Comics superheroes using the name Sandman
- Westley, from The Princess Bride, a 1973 novel and 1987 film
- Wesley "Wes" Collins, from Power Rangers Time Force
- Wesley Crusher, in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Wesley T. Owens, in the television series Mr. Belvedere
- Wesley Pegden, from Last of the Summer Wine
- Wesley Gibson, from the Millarworld series Wanted, Nemesis Reloaded, and Big Game
- Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, from the television series Angel, originally introduced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Robert Wesley, in the Star Trek franchise