Wendy
Wendy is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Friend; alternatively a diminutive of Gwendolyn meaning 'blessed ring'.
Origin and history
Wendy is an English name popularized by J.M. Barrie's 1904 play 'Peter Pan'. Before the play, it existed as a rare diminutive of Gwendolyn or a diminutive surname, but Barrie's character catapulted it into mainstream global usage. In the United States, it became immensely popular during the mid-20th century.
Popularity in the United States
262,325 babies in the United States have been named Wendy since 1880. It ranks #156 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1123.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.9 %)
- NY (9.4 %)
- PA (5.9 %)
- TX (4.8 %)
- MI (4.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 5 |
| 1920-1930 | 45 |
| 1930-1940 | 583 |
| 1940-1950 | 8,423 |
| 1950-1960 | 42,675 |
| 1960-1970 | 88,963 |
| 1970-1980 | 74,185 |
| 1980-1990 | 22,268 |
| 1990-2000 | 11,080 |
| 2000-2010 | 9,577 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,371 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,150 |
Famous people named Wendy
- Wendy Williams: Television Host, Radio Personality
- Wendy Wasserstein: Playwright, Author
- Wendy Malik: Actress, Comedian
Fun facts
- J.M. Barrie created the name for Peter Pan based on a young girl named Margaret Henley, who called him her 'fwendy' (friendie).
- Dave Thomas named the popular American fast-food chain Wendy's after his daughter, Melinda Lou 'Wendy' Thomas.