Wendy Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Wendy is of English origin and means 'friend'. It evolved from the nickname 'Fwendy' and was popularized in the early 20th century through J.M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan'. The name is associated with traits of friendliness and whimsy, with no biblical relevance.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Wendy"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɛndi/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Wendy is believed to have been popularized by J.M. Barrie's character Wendy Darling in his play 'Peter Pan', first performed in 1904. It is often thought to be derived from the nickname 'Fwendy' used by a young girl named Margaret Henley who was a friend of Barrie.
Meaning
friend
Language Evolution
Fwendy, Wendy
Historical Usage
Wendy gained popularity as a given name in the early 20th century, particularly after the publication of 'Peter Pan'.
Variants & Derivatives
Wendie, Wenda
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Wendy is seen as a friendly and whimsical name, often associated with childhood and innocence due to its literary origins.
Famous People
Wendy Williams - American television host and actress, Wendy Malick - American actress and former model, Wendy Davis - American politician and former Texas State Senator
📊 Wendy Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Name Visualizations
Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 11,258 peak births in 1967
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Hawaii
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 11 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Wendy" - Complete Guide (9 Names)
Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Wendy". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 9 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.
Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Wendy" that fits your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Wendy"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Wendy"
"Wendy" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2396th of 7552 | 219 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1652nd of 10718 | 461 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3776th of 16616 | 219 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 12454th of 24088 | 52 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5618th of 9107 | 37 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 534th of 9204 | 3,154 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 99th of 12526 | 84,952 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 35th of 19264 | 130,879 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 183rd of 27321 | 26,534 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 376th of 35406 | 13,526 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1027th of 30306 | 3,079 |
Regional Popularity of "Wendy" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
64.77% 1574th/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
47.26% 1646th/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
53.07% 2146th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
56.72% 2946th/5194 |
33.01% 2085th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Wendy" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
100.00% 1379th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
32.73% 506th/1546 |
19.86% 309th/1556 |
52.10% 1226th/2353 |
21.20% 328th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
4.13% 92nd/2227 |
2.63% 64th/2430 |
6.31% 180th/2853 |
2.63% 73rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
1.19% 35th/2937 |
1.15% 40th/3483 |
0.99% 35th/3518 |
0.74% 30th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
6.40% 236th/3685 |
4.92% 220th/4475 |
3.62% 188th/5194 |
1.93% 122nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
13.49% 618th/4582 |
8.66% 447th/5164 |
6.07% 444th/7313 |
2.96% 221st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
34.06% 1357th/3984 |
26.28% 1179th/4487 |
16.56% 1130th/6822 |
12.14% 762nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Wendy"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Wendy" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Wendy" in the United States
The name Wendy is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Wendy has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Wendy' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2396th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1652nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3776th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 12454th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5618th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 534th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 99th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 35th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 183rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 376th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1027th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Wendy' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.