Westley
Westley is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Western meadow or western clearing.
Origin and history
Westley is an English habitational name derived from Old English roots meaning 'western meadow' or 'western clearing'. Originally used as a surname, it gained usage as a given name in the English-speaking world. In the United States, it has experienced steady modern interest, partly aided by pop culture references.
Popularity in the United States
10,119 babies in the United States have been named Westley since 1880. It ranks #1189 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #673.
States where it is most popular
- CA (20.3 %)
- TX (9 %)
- FL (6.4 %)
- PA (5.6 %)
- OH (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 5 |
| 1890-1900 | 39 |
| 1900-1910 | 77 |
| 1910-1920 | 177 |
| 1920-1930 | 251 |
| 1930-1940 | 200 |
| 1940-1950 | 274 |
| 1950-1960 | 343 |
| 1960-1970 | 382 |
| 1970-1980 | 682 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,371 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,198 |
| 2000-2010 | 809 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,007 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,304 |
Famous people named Westley
- Westley Sissel Unseld: Basketball player, Coach
Nicknames
Wes, West
Fun facts
- The name gained widespread pop culture recognition as the heroic farm boy turned dread pirate in the 1987 film The Princess Bride.
- It originated as an Old English geographic descriptor for someone living to the west of a meadow or settlement.