Given name & surname
Wiley
“of the willows”·“one who is crafty; from the meadow by the water”
Wiley is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “of the willows” (English) and “one who is crafty; from the meadow by the water” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “of the willows” (English) and “one who is crafty; from the meadow by the water” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Wiley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 18,794
- 18,400 boys · 394 girls
- Most popular year
- 1921
- 309 babies
- 2025
- 188
- #1,226 for boys · #5,545 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +35%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 88% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 165 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,226 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 31.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 304 in 1921. It also appeared in 23 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, North Carolina had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (15). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,351 as a first name in 2020; 46,986 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Wiley’s family of names
Wiley has a related form in Wylie. Wiley has a related form in Wylie. Wiley has a related form in Wylee.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Wylievariant
- Wyleevariant
- Wyleyvariant
- Wyleighvariant
- Wilievariant
- Wilyvariant
- Wylyvariant · English
- Wylivariant
Show 5 moreShow fewer
People named Wiley
- Wiley PostAmerican aviator; first pilot to fly solo around the world (1898–1935)
- Wiley RutledgeAmerican Supreme Court justice (1894-1949)
- Wiley WigginsAmerican actorborn 1976
- Wiley MapleAmerican alpine skierborn 1990
- Wiley MayneAmerican politician (1917-2007)
- Wiley ThompsonAmerican politician (1781-1835)
- Wiley NickelAmerican politician & attorney (born 1975)
- Wiley PeckAmerican basketball player (born 1957)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Wiley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Woodrow
“from the row of houses near the forest”
>99% boys
Harvey
“one who is ready for battle” · “a strong man”
98% boys · 2% girls
Vernon
“from the alder-tree grove”
>99% boys
Elwood
“from the nobleman's forest; from the old forest”
>99% boys
Wickley
“from the village meadow”
>99% boys
Booker
“one who binds books; a scribe”
>99% boys
Morley
“woman from the moor” · “from the meadow on the moor”
92% boys · 8% girls
Crawford
“from the crow's ford”
94% boys · 6% girls