Wendy
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Wendy
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.
Wendy is also given to boys.
Pronounced WEN-dee.
As of October 2026, Wendy ranked #1347 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #28 in 1970, Nameberry popularity #453.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #782 | 359 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #944 | 288 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #860 | 328 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #1,101 | 230 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #970 | 273 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #1,107 | 222 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #1,187 | 196 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #1,214 | 196 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #1,255 | 192 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #1,301 | 176 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #1,097 | 224 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #1,347 | 165 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Wendy for girls
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Wendy.
Wendy on lists
Famous Wendys
- Wendy TurnbullGirl
Australian tennis player
- Wendy MassGirl
American novelist
- Wendy DavisGirl
American actress
- Wendy Jean (Russell) DavisGirl
American politician
- Wendy RichardGirl
English actress
- Wendy Joan WilliamsGirl
American TV personality
- Wendy WilsonGirl
American singer of Wilson Phillips; sister of Carnie Wilson and daughter of Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson
- Wendy BeckettGirl
British nun and art historian
- Wendy FitzwilliamGirl
Trinidadian beauty queen, Miss Universe 1998, third African winner
- Wendy Cheng aka XiaXueGirl
Singaporean blogger
- Wendy DrennenGirl
lead singer of American Christian rock band Fireflight
- Wendy Margaret HillerGirl
English actress
- Wendy Carlos (born Walter Carlos)Girl
American composer
- Wendy WassersteinGirl
American playwright
- Melinda Lou "Wendy" ThomasGirl
Morse, American namesake and spokeswoman for Wendy's restaurants
- Wendy Jane CrewsonGirl
Canadian actress
- Wendy McElroyGirl
Canadian feminist and magazine editor
- Wendy CopeGirl
English poet
- Wendy BrownGirl
American political scientist
- Wenda "Wendy" VereenGirl
American sprinter
- Wendy BruceGirl
American Olympic gymnast
- WendyGirl
stage name of Shon Seung,wan, Canadian,Korean singer of girl group Red Velvet
Wendy in pop culture
- Wendy TestaburgerGirl
character in "South Park"
- Wendy BeauchampGirl
character in “Witches of East End” Lifetime TV Series
- Wendy WilliamsGirl
character in "South Park"
- Wendy Moira Angela DarlingGirl
character in J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan"
- Wendy MarvellGirl
character in the anime "Fairy Tail"
- Wendy CorduroyGirl
character in animated TV series "Gravity Falls"
- Wendy SimmsGirl
character on TV's "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"
- WendyGirl
character on TV's "Into the Dark"
- "Wendy and LucyGirl
" 2008 movie
- Wendy ChristensenGirl
character in movie "Final Destination 3"
- "WendyGirl
" song by The Beach Boys
- Wendy Luella EverlyGirl
main character in the "Trylle Trilogy" by Amanda Hocking
- Wendy'sGirl
American fast food chain
- Wendy CarrGirl
character in "Mindhunter"
- Wendy CarterGirl
character in video game “Don’t Starve”