Wesley - Yay or Nay? (And Why, please!)

[name_m]Wesley[/name_m]/[name_m]Westley[/name_m].

A name I’ll admit I first fell in love with watching The [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Bride[/name_f]. It was also the name of the first little boy I ever met born to someone my age, years ago, and I remember falling for the name at that time too because he was such a sweet kid.

However, now that I’m actually thinking about children of my own, I find that the name is unfortunately popular. 2012 stats ranked it as #155. To some people that may not be so bad, but I generally speaking, gravitate towards less common names.

What my question is, is do you think [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] or [name_m]Westley[/name_m] would be a good first name choice for me based on the other names I love? You can find those in my signature. If you could sell it to me a little, that would be much appreciated.

Nay for me because of the [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Bride[/name_f] (weird-- I know). I guess I watched it when I was too young and the swamp rat creatures scared me? I also have a weird mental association between [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]/[name_m]Westley[/name_m] and weasel.

That said, I know a couple that just had a baby in [name_f]May[/name_f] and named their son [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] (nn [name_m]Wes[/name_m]).

Of the other names you like, I also like [name_u]Alfie[/name_u], [name_u]Rafe[/name_u] and [name_m]Cy[/name_m] very much. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]… just not a personal favorite.

I love [name_m]Westley[/name_m] and the princess bride reference just makes me like it more!

[name_u]West[/name_u] or [name_m]Westley[/name_m] is preferable, but I’m not really a fan. I like stronger names for boys (and girls, for that matter).

I like [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]; I suppose I just like the sound of it, and the nickname “[name_m]Wes[/name_m].” I can see the name on a boy, teen, and man. However, my husband vetoed it because it sounds “too feminine.” So that’s something to keep in mind. I do think it fits in with some of your other favorites, though (especially [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] and [name_u]Blair[/name_u]).

I think [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] is a good fit with [name_m]Leopold[/name_m], [name_m]Alfred[/name_m], [name_m]Rafferty[/name_m], [name_u]Blair[/name_u], and [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]. They all have kind of an upper-crust British feel to them. I really like [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] and [name_m]Westley[/name_m]. Shockingly, I’ve never seen The [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Bride[/name_f], so I don’t have an opinion on that association.

I love love love [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]! But i like much more popular names than you, based on your previous posts. The names in your signature don’t seem too out there though, I think [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]/[name_m]Westley[/name_m] would work fine with most of your boy names. Your girl names less so…

I think it’s a wonderful name. Not too common yet very recognizable. And [name_m]Wes[/name_m] is a great nn.
But no, I don’t think it really does with the style of the other names in your signature.

I love [name_m]Westley[/name_m] (alas it violates one of my husband’s naming rules, so it’s out). The [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Bride[/name_f] is one of my absolute favorite movies, so the association is positive for me.

Super love [name_m]Westley[/name_m]!!! [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Bride[/name_f] fan here, but it is a great name regardless!!

Yes! [name_f]Love[/name_f] [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] (he’s on my list as a middle) The only thing I dislike about him is the nn [name_m]Wes[/name_m] for some reason. And the princess bride connection is awesome! I’ve only ever met one [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] (a man in his 40s) so I don’t find it to common at all. [name_m]Add[/name_m] it to your list! He works just fine with your other boys names.

I like [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]! xx

I love [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]! It’s on my list and I would definitely use it. I love the [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Bride[/name_f] connection and it’s use on [name_f]Star[/name_f] Trek: TNG (which I watched as a kid). While I wouldn’t call it super-popular, it’s definitely more common than the names on your signature though, and I’m not sure it goes that well with them.

Nay sounds really unattractive in my head.

Suggestion [name_m]Weston[/name_m]?

Thanks so much for the response everyone! I think the consensus is it’s a little too different from my other style, which is okay. There are many names out there, and perhaps it’s something to incorporate as a middle name instead. I am liking [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] [name_u]West[/name_u], for example.

Yay!!! It’s not too popular or too out there like your other names. The ones in your signature are both girl names right? They definitely don’t go with [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]. I’m not a fan of uncommon names. [name_m]Wes[/name_m] is a cute nickname too.

Thanks. I really like uncommon names though, which is why I think [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] might not be the right choice for me.

The characters name in The [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Bride[/name_f] is actually [name_m]Westley[/name_m]. I know this only because its my all time favorite movie and I was considering naming my third after [name_u]Cary[/name_u] Elwes character too. I researched it and found it the correct name is [name_m]Westley[/name_m], and all these years I thought it was [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]. However, I do like [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] for a name too!

I like [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]/[name_m]Westley[/name_m]. I’ve never seen the [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Bride[/name_f], so that doesn’t make a difference for me. I actually know a girl named [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] (not that I like it on a girl) so it seems like a wearable name to me.

Yup, I’m aware his name is [name_m]Westley[/name_m], but [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] is similar and I like both names. Thanks for the input!