Wendy
How to say it: WEN-dee · /ˈwɛndi/
Popularized by J.M. Barrie in 'Peter Pan' (1904), likely from the childhood word 'fwendy' (friend).
Wendy was the 1,115th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 165 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1960s, its births are down about 42% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,260 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,115 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 165 |
| Share of births | 1 in 20,092 |
| Peak decade | 1960s |
| Change over 10 years | −42% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,260 |
| In France, 2025 | #540 among girls’ names, 70 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Once much more common, Wendy reached its height in the 1960s. It now rests far below that height and is expected to drift lower.
What goes with it
Light and crisp with a gentle literary charm. Penny feels like a kindred choice for a sister.
Nicknames
- Wren
Honouring a Wendy in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Wendy is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish.
In France: #540 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Wendy
- Wendy Carlos (born 1939)American composer and electronic musician
- Wendy B. Lawrence (born 1959)US astronaut and Navy Captain
- Wendy Williams (born 1964)American media personality
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Wendy Darling of Barrie's Peter Pan
- Wendy's fast-food chain
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