Wendy
Wendy is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Derived as a diminutive of Gwendolyn meaning 'blessed ring' or 'fair', or from Germanic roots meaning 'wanderer'.
Origin and history
Wendy is traditionally associated with the Welsh root underlying Gwendolyn or the Germanic root Wendel. While popularized primarily for females by J.M. Barrie's play Peter Pan, it has seen limited historical use as a masculine given name in the United States. Today, male usage of Wendy is rare in U.S. birth records.
Popularity in the United States
951 babies in the United States have been named Wendy since 1880. It ranks #3728 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- CA (60.2 %)
- NY (17.8 %)
- PA (8.5 %)
- TX (8.5 %)
- FL (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 5 |
| 1950-1960 | 111 |
| 1960-1970 | 249 |
| 1970-1980 | 296 |
| 1980-1990 | 158 |
| 1990-2000 | 92 |
| 2000-2010 | 35 |
| 2010-2019 | 5 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Nicknames
Wen
Fun facts
- J.M. Barrie popularized Wendy in his 1904 play Peter Pan, inspired by a young girl who called him her 'fwiendy-wendy'.
- When used for males, Wendy can function as a derivative of the Germanic name Wendel, historically linked to the Wends or Vandals.