Wiley

Wiley - A very unique male name

Wiley appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #255. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Wiley and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Wiley? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Wiley. The baby boy name Wiley was given to 120 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1206 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 12,219 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Wiley peaked in popularity 116 years ago in 1910 on position 255.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Wiley, 1-5?

Wiley is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Wiley is currently topping the baby name charts in Kansas at position #521 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #2,069.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Wiley is where you live.

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Wiley origin and meaning

English surname, transferred

Uncertain — the surname is usually traced to the Wylye place names in Wiltshire, from a river name whose meaning is not settled

Wiley is an old transferred surname that peaked as a first name in 1921 and has held a low, steady level ever since. Its recent sound — close to Riley and Wylie — keeps it in circulation. Surname etymologies of this type are rarely secure, so we do not present the river-name theory as fact.

Origin uncertain

Wiley is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Wiley, pop culture references for the name Wiley and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Wiley

We've found the following names that sound similar to Wiley, sorted by popularity.

Willie / Will / Wylie / Wally / Willy / Wali / Wilho / Wael / Wil / Willow /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Wiley

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Wiley a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Wiley?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

WY-lee · /ˈwaɪli/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Wylie — The alternative surname spelling, also used as a given name.

Famous bearers

• Wiley Post — American aviator who made the first solo flight around the world in 1933 (1898–1935) Historical

Style

SurnameVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Wiley has a friendly, old-West sound and a century of quiet use — a surname name that feels worn-in rather than trendy.

Worth knowing

• One letter from Wile E. Coyote — the cartoon association ('wily coyote') will be mentioned, especially in childhood.