Wesley is a name with an Anglo-Norman

etymology Etymology ( ) is the study of the origin and evolution of words—including their constituent units of sound and meaning—across time. In the 21st century a subfield within linguistics, etymology has become a more rigorously scientific study. ...

. 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 John Wesley ( ; 2 March 1791) was an English cleric, Christian theology, theologian, and Evangelism, evangelist who was a principal leader of a Christian revival, revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies ...

, founder of the

Methodist movement Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christian tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother Charles Wesley were also significa ...

, inspired some parents to name their sons after him.

Surname

*The Wesley family, founders of

Methodism Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...

and noted musicians, including: **

Samuel Wesley (poet, died 1735) Samuel Wesley (17 December 1662 – 25 April 1735) was a clergyman of the Church of England, a poet, and a writer. He was the father of John Wesley and Charles Wesley, the founders of Methodism. Family and early life Samuel Wesley was the s ...

(1662–1735), minister and Stuart poet **

Samuel Wesley (poet, died 1739) Samuel Wesley (10 February 1690 or 1691 – 6 November 1739) was a poet, teacher and an Anglican cleric. He was the eldest of the Wesley brothers—with younger brothers John and Charles—but did not play a notable role in the nascent Methodist ...

, or Samuel Wesley the Younger, son of Samuel (1662–1735) **

(1703–1791), son of Samuel (1662–1735), the principal founder of the Methodist denomination of Protestant Christianity **

Charles Wesley Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English Anglican cleric and a principal leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include "And Can It ...

(1707–1788), son of Samuel (1662–1735), Methodist leader and prolific hymn writer ** Charles Wesley junior (1757–1834), son of Charles (1707–1788), organist, composer **

Samuel Wesley (composer, born 1766) Samuel Wesley (24 February 1766 – 11 October 1837) was an English organ (music), organist and composer in the late Georgian era, Georgian period. Wesley was a contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mozart (1756–1791) and was called by some ...

(1766–1837), son of Charles (1707–1788), organist, composer **

Samuel Sebastian Wesley Samuel Sebastian Wesley (14 August 1810 – 19 April 1876) was an English organ (music), organist and composer. Wesley married Mary Anne Merewether and had 6 children. He is often referred to as S.S. Wesley to avoid confusion with his father Sa ...

(1810–1876), son of the Samuel (1766–1837), organist, composer **

Susanna Wesley Susanna Wesley (née Annesley; 20 January 1669 – 23 July 1742) was the daughter of Samuel Annesley and Mary White, and the mother of John and Charles “…although she never preached a sermon or published a book or founded a church, (she ...

(1669–1742), wife of Samuel Wesley (1662–1735) *

Antoine Wesley Antoine Wesley (born October 22, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Early life Wesley attended Cibolo Steele in Cibolo, Texas. During his career he had 74 recep ...

(born 1997), American football player *

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (; 1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was a British Army officer and statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures in Britain during t ...

(1769–1852), a British soldier and statesman best known for defeating

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

, was born as Arthur Wesley *

August Wesley August Anselm Wesley ( Wesslin; born 3 August 1887; last rumoured to be alive 1942) was a Finnish journalist, trade unionist, and revolutionary who was the chief of the Red Guards general staff in the Finnish Civil War. He later served as a l ...

(1887–1942), Finnish journalist, trade unionist and revolutionary *

Barry Wesley Barry Wesley (born July 14, 1999) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado State Rams. College career Wesley played four ...

(born 1999), American football player * Billy Wesley (born 1971), American politician *

Blake Wesley (ice hockey) Trevor "Blake" Wesley (born July 10, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played parts of seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Toronto ...

(born 1959), former Canadian professional ice hockey player *

Blake Wesley (basketball) Blake Carrington Wesley (born March 16, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Early life Wesley ...

(born 2003), American basketball player *

(1896–1944), Negro league baseball player *

Dante Wesley Dante Julius Wesley (born April 5, 1979) is an American former professional football cornerback. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Arkansas at Pine ...

(born 1979), American football player *

David Wesley David Barakau Wesley (born November 14, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Early life David graduated from Longview High School in Longview, Texas. He was classma ...

(born 1970), retired American basketball player *

Fred Wesley Fred Wesley (born July 4, 1943) is an American trombonist who worked with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s, and Parliament-Funkadelic in the second half of the 1970s. Biography Wesley was born the son of a high school teacher and big band le ...

(born 1943), American jazz trombonist *

Glen Wesley Glen Edwin Wesley (born October 2, 1968) is a Canadian- American former ice hockey defenceman. Wesley played 13 seasons for the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. He began his career with the Boston Bruins, and b ...

(born 1968), former Canadian National Hockey League player *

John Wesley (guitarist) John Wesley Dearth III is an American guitarist and singer, best known as touring guitarist for Porcupine Tree between 2002 and 2010, and also for performing with Mike Tramp, Fish, Sound of Contact, Edison's Children and Vertical Horizon, as ...

(born 1962), American musician *

Mary Wesley Mary Aline Siepmann CBE (24 June 191230 December 2002), known by the pen name Mary Wesley, was an English novelist. During her career, she was one of Britain's most successful novelists, selling three million copies of her books, including ten ...

(1912–2002), British author *

Mia Wesley Mia Wesley is an American television actress who has appeared on ''Grey's Anatomy'', ''Desperate Housewives'', '' Six Feet Under'', '' ER'', and ''The Shield''. Her first television appearance was a recurring role as Isabel on ''Party of Five ...

, American actress *

Paul Wesley Paweł Tomasz Wasilewski (; July 23, 1982), better known by his stage name Paul Wesley, is an American actor and film director. He is known for starring as Stefan Salvatore in '' The Vampire Diaries'' (2009–2017) and James T. Kirk in '' Star ...

(born 1982), American actor *

Richard Wesley Richard Wesley (born July 11, 1945) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He is an associate professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in the Rita and Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing. Early life Wesley w ...

(born 1945), African American playwright *

Rutina Wesley Rutina Wesley (born December 21, 1978) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Tara Thornton in the HBO fantasy drama series ''True Blood'', Nova Bordelon on the OWN drama series ''Queen Sugar'', and Maria in the HBO post-ap ...

(born 1979), American actress * Dorsey Wesley, American record producer known as Megahertz *

Walt Wesley Walter Ivory Wesley (January 25, 1945 – March 28, 2024) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. Early life Wesley grew up in Fort Myers ...

(born 1945), former American basketball player *

William Wesley William Sydney Wesley (born August 14, 1964) is the Executive Vice President – Senior Basketball Advisor for the New York Knicks. He is a former American consultant for Creative Artists Agency. Known as "World Wide Wes" or simply "Wes," Wesle ...

(born 1964), American basketball player and agent

Given name

* Wesley (footballer, born 1980) (Wesley Lopes da Silva), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born 1981) (Wesley Barbosa De Morais), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born 1987) (Wesley Lopes Beltrame), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born 1989) (Wesley Karlos Piedade), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born 1990) (Wesley Pacheco Gomes), Brazilian footballer *

Wesley (footballer, born 1992) Wesley dos Santos Rodrigues (born 2 April 1992), commonly known as Wesley, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a defender for Nam Định Nam Định () is the capital city of Nam Định province in the Red River Delta of the ...

(Wesley dos Santos Rodrigues), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born 1995) (Wesley Claudio Campos), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born April 1996) (Wesley Pionteck Souza), Brazilian footballer *

Wesley (footballer, born November 1996) Wesley may refer to: People and fictional characters * Wesley (name), a given name and a surname Places United States * Wesley, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Wesley, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Wesley Township, Will County, ...

(Wesley Moraes), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born 1999) (Wesley Ribeiro), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born April 2000) (Wesley Hudson da Silva), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born 2002) (Wesley Pombo), Brazilian footballer * Wesley (footballer, born 2005) (Wesley Gassova), Brazilian footballer *

Wesley Addy Robert Wesley Addy (August 4, 1913 – December 31, 1996)R Wesley Addy in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claim Index, 1936-2007, retrieved froAncestry.com/ref> was an American actor of stage, television, and film. Early years A ...

(1913–1996), American actor * Wesley Anderson (born 1969), American film director *

Wesley Augusto Henn Marth Wesley Augusto Henn Marth (born 5 March 2000), commonly known as Wesley, is a Brazilian footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are associati ...

(born 2000), Brazilian football player * Wesley G. Bush (born 1961), American business executive *

Wesley Chesbro Wesley P. Chesbro (born August 20, 1951) is an American Democratic politician from California. He was an assemblymember for the 2nd district, encompassing the North Coast. Previously, Chesbro served as the Assembly member from California's 1st ...

(born 1951), California Assemblyman and Senator *

Wesley Chu Wesley Chu (朱恆昱) (born September 23, 1976, in Taipei) is a Taiwanese American author of speculative fiction. Early life and career Chu was born in Taipei in 1976 and originally raised by his grandparents in Taiwan while his parents were s ...

(born 1976), American science fiction writer *

Wesley Clark Wesley Kanne Clark (born Wesley J. Kanne, 23 December 1944) is a retired United States Army officer. He graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1966 at United States Military Academy, West Point and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the U ...

(born 1944), American military general, and politician *

Wesley Correira Wesley John Correira Jr. (born November 11, 1978), nicknamed Cabbage, is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight and super heavyweight divisions. An iron chinned brawler, Correira began his career in 2000 and came to pro ...

(born 1978), American mixed martial artist * Wesley Cox (born 1955), American basketball player * Wesley Craven (1939–2015), American filmmaker * Wesley Gasolina (Wesley David de Oliveira Andrade, born 2000), Brazilian football player *

Wesley Duncan Wesley Karl Duncan (born December 26, 1980) is a Nevada attorney, member of the Air Force reserve, and prosecutor. He served as First Assistant Attorney General of Nevada from 2014 to September 2017 and as a Republican member of the Nevada Ass ...

(born 1980), American politician *

Wesley Eure Wesley Eure (born Wesley Eure Loper; August 17, 1951) is an American actor, singer, author, producer, director, and educator widely known for his role as Michael Horton on the American soap opera '' Days of Our Lives'' from 1974 to 1981. During ...

(born 1951), American actor *

Wesley Fofana (footballer) Wesley Tidjan Fofana (born 17 December 2000) is a French professional Association football, footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Chelsea F.C., Chelsea and the France national football team, France national team. Early ...

(born 2000), French footballer *

Wesley Fofana (rugby union) Wesley Fofana (born 20 January 1988) is a former French rugby union player, of Malian descent, who played his entire 14-year career for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 and the France national rugby union team. He played as a wing or centr ...

(born 1988), French rugby union player *

Wesley French Wesley M. French (born November 30, 1996) is an American professional football center for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He spent seven years playing college football at Western Michigan seeing game action during fi ...

(born 1996), American football player * Wesley Henderson (born 1951), American architect, historian, and educator *

Wesley Klein Wesley Klein (born 25 March 1988 in Leiderdorp, Netherlands) is a Dutch singer. He was mainly known for his participation in the Dutch version of the talent show '' Popstars'' on SBS 6 in its second series (2009–2010) in June 2009 in which he ...

(born 1988), winner of the second series of ''Popstars (Netherlands)'' *

Wesley Korir Wesley Kipchumba Korir (15 November 1982) is a Kenyan athlete who specializes in long distance running competitions, as well as a politician who served as an elected member of Parliament for Cherangany Constituency. On 16 April 2012, he won the ...

(born 1982), Kenyan athlete and politician *

Wesley Matthews Wesley Joel Matthews Jr. (born October 14, 1986) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles. He i ...

(born 1986), American basketball player * Wesley Morgan (born 1990), Canadian actor and model * Wesley Natã (born 1995), Brazilian footballer *

Wes Nelson Wesley Nelson (born 18 March 1998) is an English singer and television personality. In 2018, he appeared in the fourth series of the ITV2 reality series ''Love Island (2015 TV series), Love Island'', and has since competed on ''Dancing on Ice'' ...

(born 1998), English television personality and singer *

Wesley Pruden James Wesley Pruden Jr., known as Wesley Pruden (December 18, 1935 – July 17, 2019) was an American journalist and author. He was the editor-in-chief of ''The Washington Times'' from 1992 until his retirement in 2008. Early life and education P ...

(1935–2019), American journalist *

Wesley Ira Purkey Wesley Ira Purkey (January 6, 1952 – July 16, 2020) was an American convicted murderer who was executed by the United States federal government for the January 1998 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 16-year-old Jennifer Long. Purkey confessed t ...

(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 The Redfern All Blacks, also known as RABs or Redfern, are an Indigenous Australian semi-professional rugby league club based in Redfern, New South Wales, They are a part of the South Sydney District Junior Rugby Football League. History Redfer ...

, an Indigenous Australian rugby league club *

Wesley Sneijder Wesley Sneijder (; born 9 June 1984) is a Dutch former professional footballer. Noted for his playmaking ability, he was considered one of the best midfielders in the world during his prime. A product of the Ajax Youth Academy, Sneijder started ...

(born 1984), Dutch footballer *

Wesley Snipes Wesley Trent Snipes (born July 31, 1962) is an American actor and martial artist. In a film career spanning more than thirty years, Snipes has appeared in a variety of genres, such as numerous thrillers, dramatic feature films, and comedies, th ...

(born 1962), American actor *

Wesley So Wesley Barbossa So (born October 9, 1993) is a Filipino and American chess grandmaster, a three-time U.S. Chess Champion, and the first World Fischer Random Chess Champion. He is also a three-time Philippine Chess Champion. On the March 201 ...

(born 1993), Filipino chess player *

Wesley Somerville William Wesley Somerville ( – 31 July 1975) was an Ulster loyalist militant, who held the rank of lieutenant in the Ulster Volunteer Force's (UVF) Mid-Ulster Brigade during the period of conflict known as "the Troubles". He was also a servi ...

(born 1941), Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary * Wesley Stromberg (born 1993), American musician, member of band Emblem3 *

Wesley Tann John Wesley Tann Jr (July 17, 1928 – November 23, 2012) was an American fashion designer. His clientele included Jacqueline Kennedy, Diahann Carroll, Carmen de Lavallade, Leontyne Price, Jennie Grossinger and several Miss Americas. His 1962 ...

(1928–2012), American fashion designer *

Wesley Timoteo Wesley-Thomas Lança Timóteo (born April 9, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers. Early life Timoteo was born and raised in Montreal to parents of Portuguese de ...

(born 2000), Canadian soccer player *

Wesley Willis Wesley Lawrence Willis (May 31, 1963 – August 21, 2003) was an American musician and visual artist. Diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1989, Willis began a career as an underground singer-songwriter in the outsider music tradition. Will ...

(1963–2003), American cult musician and painter

Fictional characters

Wesley Dodds } The Sandman (Wesley Bernard "Wes" Dodds) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first of several DC characters to bear the name Sandman, he was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Allen Bert Christman ...

, 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 ''Power Rangers Time Force'' is a television series and the ninth season of the ''Power Rangers'' franchise, based on the 24th Super Sentai series ''Mirai Sentai Timeranger'', running for 40 half-hour episodes from February to November 2001. I ...

'' *

Wesley Crusher Wesley Crusher is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. He appears regularly in the first four seasons of the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (''TNG''), and sporadically in its next three seasons. He also a ...

, in the television series ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' * Wesley T. Owens, in the television series ''

Mr. Belvedere ''Mr. Belvedere'' is an American sitcom that originally broadcasting, aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from March 15, 1985 until its cancellation (television), cancellation following the 107th episodic television, episode on December ...

'' * 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 Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (also spelled Wyndam-Price and Wyndham-Price) is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ''Angel (1999 TV series), Angel''. Played by Alexis Denisof, Wesley first ...

, from the television series ''Angel'', originally introduced in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' * Robert Wesley, in the ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the Star Trek: The Original Series, series of the same name and became a worldwide Popular culture, pop-culture Cultural influence of ...

'' franchise

References

{{given name, type=both English masculine given names Masculine given names Given names originating from a surname

Surname

Given name

Fictional characters

See also

References