Wesley (name)

Wesley is a name with an Anglo-Norman etymology. The "wes" portion of the name refers to the Western cardinal direction, while the word "lea" refers to a field, pasture, or other clearing in a forest. Thus, the name's origin refers to a "western lea," or a field to the west.

The name was predominantly used as a surname until John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church, inspired some parents to name their sons after him.

Surname

• The Wesley family, founders of Methodism and noted musicians, including:
  • Samuel Wesley (poet) (1662–1735), minister and Stuart poet
  • John Wesley (1703–1791), son of the above, the principal founder of the Methodist denomination of Protestant Christianity
  • Charles Wesley (1707–1788), younger brother of the above, Methodist leader and prolific hymn writer
  • Charles Wesley junior (1757–1834), son of the above, organist, composer
  • Samuel Wesley (1766–1837), younger brother of the above, organist, composer
  • Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810–1876), son of the above, organist, composer
  • Susanna Wesley (1669–1742), wife of Samuel Wesley (poet)
• Antoine Wesley (born 1997), American football player
• Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), a British soldier and statesman best known for defeating Napoleon, was born as Arthur Wesley
• August Wesley (1887–1942), Finnish journalist, trade unionist and revolutionary
• Barry Wesley (born 1999), American football player
• Billy Wesley (born 1971), American politician
• Blake Wesley (ice hockey) (born 1959), former Canadian professional ice hockey player
• Blake Wesley (basketball) (born 2003), American basketball player
• Charles Wesley (1896–1944), Negro league baseball player
• Dante Wesley (born 1979), American football player
• David Wesley (born 1970), retired American basketball player
• Fred Wesley (born 1943), American jazz trombonist
• Glen Wesley (born 1968), former Canadian National Hockey League player
• John Wesley (guitarist) (born 1962), American musician
• Mary Wesley (1912–2002), British author
• Mia Wesley, American actress
• Paul Wesley (born 1982), American actor
• Richard Wesley (born 1945), African American playwright
• Rutina Wesley (born 1979), American actress
• Dorsey Wesley, American record producer known as Megahertz
• Walt Wesley (born 1945), former American basketball player
• William Wesley (born 1964), American basketball player and agent

Given name

• Wesley Addy (1913–1996), American actor
• Wesley Anderson (born 1969), American film director
• Wesley Augusto Henn Marth (born 2000), Brazilian football player
• Wesley Barbosa De Morais (born 1981), Brazilian football player
• Wesley G. Bush (born 1961), American business executive
• Wesley Chesbro (born 1951), California Assemblyman and Senator
• Wesley Chu (born 1976), American science fiction writer
• Wesley Clark (born 1944), American military general, and politician
• Wesley Correira (born 1978), American mixed martial artist
• Wesley Cox (born 1955), American basketball player
• Wesley Craven (1939–2015), American filmmaker
• Wesley David de Oliveira Andrade (born 2000), Brazilian football player
• Wesley Duncan (born 1980), American politician
• Wesley Eure (born 1951), American actor
• Wesley Fofana (footballer) (born 2000), French footballer
• Wesley Fofana (rugby union) (born 1988), French rugby union player
• Wesley French (born 1996), American football player
• Wesley Henderson (born 1951), American architect, historian, and educator
• Wesley Klein (born 1988), winner of the second series of Popstars (Netherlands)
• Wesley Korir (born 1982), Kenyan athlete and politician
• Wesley Lopes Beltrame (born 1987), Brazilian footballer
• Wesley Lopes da Silva (born 1980), Brazilian footballer
• Wesley Matthews (born 1986), American basketball player
• Wesley Moraes (born 1996), Brazilian football player
• Wesley Morgan (born 1990), Canadian actor and model
• Wes Nelson (born 1998), English television personality and singer
• Wesley Pruden (1935–2019), American journalist
• Wesley Ira Purkey (1952–2020), American convicted murderer
• Wesley Santos (born 1991), Brazilian footballer
• Wesley Scantlin (born 1972), Guitarist and singer for Puddle Of Mudd
• Wesley Simms, co-founder of the Redfern All Blacks, an Indigenous Australian rugby league club
• Wesley Sneijder (born 1984), Dutch footballer
• Wesley Snipes (born 1962), American actor
• Wesley So (born 1993), Filipino chess player
• Wesley Somerville (born 1941), Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary
• Wesley Stromberg (born 1993), American musician, member of band Emblem3
• Wesley Tann (1928–2012), American fashion designer
• Wesley Timoteo (born 2000), Canadian soccer player
• Wesley Willis (1963–2003), 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 (and its film adaptation), 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

See also

• Wesly, given name
• Wescley, given name
• Wes (given name)
• Westley (disambiguation)
• Wesley Brown (disambiguation)