Is Westley a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Westley is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Westley?

It’s currently ranked #549 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

Westley Boy

Popularity: #549 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationWES-lee / /ˈwɛs.tli/

English; Old English

Meaning

English: from the western meadow; Old English: western clearing

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Westley is derived from Old English elements meaning 'west' and 'meadow' or 'clearing.' It has been used as a surname and a given name since the 19th century. The name gained popularity in the United States during the 20th century, partly due to cultural references in literature and film.

Trend Summary

Westley has seen a moderate level of popularity in the United States, particularly in the late 20th century.

Variants

Wesley

International Variants

Wesley (English)
Weslley (Portuguese)

Famous people named Westley

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Fictional characters named Westley

Westley is the main character in 'The Princess Bride,' known for his quest to rescue Buttercup.

Westley Wyndam-Pryce is a character in the television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and its spin-off 'Angel,' serving as a British Watcher.

Sibling Suggestions

Wes Weston Wesleyan Weslie

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Westley was first seen in the United States in 1887. Westley has ranked as high as #949 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Westley has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Westley (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	57	16%
TX	36	10%
OR	22	6%
PA	20	6%
FL	15	4%
OH	14	4%
MI	14	4%
WA	13	4%
NC	13	4%
MO	12	3%
IL	11	3%
OK	10	3%
WI	10	3%
MN	10	3%
AZ	10	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1887	5
1892	8
1893	7
1895	5
1896	10
1899	9
1900	13
1901	5
1902	8
1903	8
1904	8
1905	7
1906	6
1908	10
1909	12
1910	9
1911	8
1912	14
1913	10
1914	16
1915	22
1916	20
1917	18
1918	24
1919	36
1920	22
1921	26
1922	23
1923	34
1924	28
1925	32
1926	25
1927	29
1928	15
1929	17
1930	27
1931	18
1932	28
1933	18
1934	16
1935	23
1936	11
1937	21
1938	18
1939	20
1940	22
1941	21
1942	28
1943	28
1944	20
1945	25
1946	23
1947	30
1948	48
1949	29
1950	27
1951	32
1952	30
1953	33
1954	39
1955	44
1956	44
1957	40
1958	22
1959	32
1960	31
1961	40
1962	41
1963	28
1964	38
1965	31
1966	44
1967	31
1968	53
1969	45
1970	60
1971	66
1972	41
1973	53
1974	53
1975	52
1976	65
1977	118
1978	105
1979	69
1980	84
1981	97
1982	76
1983	83
1984	79
1985	94
1986	148
1987	208
1988	271
1989	231
1990	194
1991	152
1992	146
1993	126
1994	131
1995	109
1996	80
1997	79
1998	91
1999	89
2000	65
2001	57
2002	90
2003	69
2004	65
2005	79
2006	81
2007	89
2008	105
2009	109
2010	108
2011	116
2012	140
2013	186
2014	174
2015	200
2016	239
2017	262
2018	291
2019	291
2020	324
2021	340
2022	367
2023	400
2024	419