Wendy
English, Celtic, Welsh
"friend or white"
By Brynn McKeon
Updated Wed Nov 29 2023
Wendy Origin and Meaning
The name Wendy is a girl's name of English origin meaning "friend or white".
It is popularly claimed that the name Wendy was invented by Sir James Barrie in 1904 for the big sister character in his play Peter Pan, which was followed by the classic novel in 1911. Barrie supposedly took it from the nickname "fwendy-wendy", that he was called by a young girl acquaintance.
Although the character of Wendy Darling undoubtedly popularized the name across the English-speaking world – peaking in the Top 10 in several countries in the 1950s and 60s – it did actually appear rarely before that. It was likely derived from the Welsh name Gwendolen and its variants.
Wendy's heyday was once upon a time, but it's starting to undergo a style revolution. With other bouncy and peppy retro nicknames, like Sadie and Edie, rising, Wendy could be part of the next wave.
Although the character of Wendy Darling undoubtedly popularized the name across the English-speaking world – peaking in the Top 10 in several countries in the 1950s and 60s – it did actually appear rarely before that. It was likely derived from the Welsh name Gwendolen and its variants.
Wendy's heyday was once upon a time, but it's starting to undergo a style revolution. With other bouncy and peppy retro nicknames, like Sadie and Edie, rising, Wendy could be part of the next wave.
# in the US
Wendy Rank in US Top 1000
Wendy Popularity
20 Names Similar to Wendy
These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Wendy.
- Dorothy
- Ginny
- Holly
- Lenora
- Penny
- Ginger
- Winnie
- Peggy
- Heidi
- Dawn
- Coraline
- Mina
- Kelly
- Isis
- Dolly
- Bianca
- Eileen
- Eleanora
- Fauna
- Polly
Famous People Named Wendy
- Wendy TurnbullAustralian tennis player
- Wendy MassAmerican novelist
- Wendy DavisAmerican actress
- Wendy Jean (Russell) DavisAmerican politician
- Wendy RichardEnglish actress
- Wendy Joan WilliamsAmerican TV personality
- Wendy WilsonAmerican singer of Wilson Phillips; sister of Carnie Wilson and daughter of Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson
- Wendy BeckettBritish nun and art historian
- Wendy FitzwilliamTrinidadian beauty queen, Miss Universe 1998, third African winner
- Wendy Cheng aka XiaXueSingaporean blogger
- Wendy Drennenlead singer of American Christian rock band Fireflight
- Wendy Margaret HillerEnglish actress
- Wendy Carlos (born Walter Carlos)American composer
- Wendy WassersteinAmerican playwright
- Melinda Lou "Wendy" ThomasMorse, American namesake and spokeswoman for Wendy's restaurants
- Wendy Jane CrewsonCanadian actress
- Wendy McElroyCanadian feminist and magazine editor
- Wendy CopeEnglish poet
- Wendy BrownAmerican political scientist
- Wenda "Wendy" VereenAmerican sprinter
- Wendy BruceAmerican Olympic gymnast
- Wendystage name of Shon Seung,wan, Canadian,Korean singer of girl group Red Velvet
Wendy in Pop Culture
- Wendy Testaburgercharacter in "South Park"
- Wendy Beauchampcharacter in “Witches of East End” Lifetime TV Series
- Wendy Williamscharacter in "South Park"
- Wendy Moira Angela Darlingcharacter in J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan"
- Winifred "Wendy" Torrance character in "The Shining" by Stephen King
- Wendy Marvellcharacter in the anime "Fairy Tail"
- Wendy Corduroycharacter in animated TV series "Gravity Falls"
- Wendy Simmscharacter on TV's "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"
- Wendycharacter on TV's "Into the Dark"
- "Wendy and Lucy" 2008 movie
- Wendy Christensencharacter in movie "Final Destination 3"
- "Wendy" song by The Beach Boys
- Wendy Luella Everlymain character in the "Trylle Trilogy" by Amanda Hocking
- Wendy'sAmerican fast food chain