Wes

A familiar Old English name with steady appeal.

Boy's nameOld EnglishRising fast Also a pet name
#744 55in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the male given names Wesley or Weston.

Wes is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, a short form of Wesley or Weston, both derived from Old English place names meaning 'western meadow' or 'western settlement.' Wes has been used as a standalone given name since at least the early 20th century.

Wes has the direct, friendly warmth of a name that sounds like a person you would genuinely like. Filmmaker Wes Anderson gave it artistic quirk; Wes Montgomery gave it jazz guitar genius. It is one syllable of genuine character — no fuss, all personality. Currently climbing as parents embrace ultra-short names with big presence.

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Popularity Over Time

Wes climbed 1996 spots in the last 20 years — from #2740 to #744.

08617325934518801900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Wes
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,454
2010s1,396
2000s480
1990s228
1980s392
1970s571
1960s1,110
1950s485
1940s160
1930s51
1920s39
1910s19
1880s23

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(105 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Wes
YearBirthsRank
2024345#744
2023310#799
2022315#801
2021268#867
2020216#990
2019217#982
2018191#1063
2017180#1089
2016160#1193
2015143#1265
2014122#1395
2013122#1385
201294#1655
201183#1769
201084#1777
200966#2096
200875#1931
200756#2334
200666#2035
200549#2397

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Wes has two lives

Wes, the baby name
#744boys
6,408 babies
Currently viewing
Wes, the pet name
#3021pet name
29 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology