Wendy

Girl · English

Wendy

Say it: WEN-dee

Meaning

Barrie's Peter Pan (1904) made it widely known; it had appeared rarely before, possibly as a pet form of Gwendolen. The story that Barrie invented it from 'friendy-wendy' is popular but incomplete.

Disputedsharp disagreement, or a popular meaning that is not supported.

Rose sharply in the 20th century after Peter Pan.

Its wave through time

A fashion of the 1960s

In the United States

262,318 babies given this name since 1918
At its height in 1967, about 1 in 147 girls
193 babies in 2020

Through the ages

The Modern Age1880 to today

Used by

English American

Famous bearers

Wendy Darling, heroine of Peter Pan

Names worth a look

EstherGirlUncertain. Usually derived from Persian stāra 'star' or from the name of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar; her Hebrew…Biblical · peak 1897

MarionGirlA medieval French pet form of Marie, with the diminutive ending -on.Middle Ages · peak 1917

ValerieGirlFrom the French form of Latin Valeria, the feminine of the Roman family name Valerius, from valere 'to be strong'.Rome · peak 1959

MorganGirl or boyUncertain. From Old Welsh Morcant, perhaps mor 'great' or 'sea' plus cant 'circle' or 'bright'; 'sea-born' is a…Early Medieval · peak 1995

ElaineGirlOld French form associated with Helen; the Arthurian Elaine of Astolat.Victorian · peak 1945

VanessaGirlCoined by Jonathan Swift for Esther Vanhomrigh, from Van (her surname) plus Esse (pet form of Esther).Modern · peak 1985

WandaGirlName of a legendary Polish princess in Wincenty Kadłubek's chronicle; its origin is unclear, and the link with the…Revolutions · peak 1933

WendellBoyFrom a surname derived from the Germanic name element Wendel, usually connected with the Vandals (or Wends).Victorian · peak 1940

Where this comes from

Well-known works of literature
United States Social Security birth records, 1880 to today source
United States Social Security birth records, 1880 to today source

Meanings and histories are compiled from the study of names and their languages and checked by a second review.

Meanings and histories are drawn from the study of names and their languages, each with a confidence rating; popularity figures come from official birth records. Name histories are a living field: if you know of a correction, we would be glad to hear it.