A wide angle lens is constituted by, in order from the object side to the image side: a front group having a negative refractive power; an aperture stop; and a rear group having a positive refractive power. The front group includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a first meniscus lens having a negative refractive power, and a second meniscus lens having a negative refractive power. The rear group includes a first cemented lens formed by cementing a negative lens and a positive lens, provided in this order from the object side, together, most toward the image side, and a lens having at least one aspherical surface and a negative refractive power provided adjacent to the first cemented lens at the object side thereof.