Wendy
Wendy: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwɛn.di/ · /ˈwɪndi/
Meaning and origin of Wendy
Root meaning: “watercourse with a bend”
- A female given name.
Etymology
Popularized by the character in J. M. Barrie's play, Peter Pan (1904), though occasionally found earlier; the author explained that he got it from Fwendy-Wendy ("friend"), a nickname given to him by a child. Alternatively, from a diminutive of the Welsh Gwendolen; or from Wendelin, a diminutive of Wendel; therefore a doublet of Gwen. A habitational forename meaning, "island at the river bend", from Old English wende (“watercourse with a bend”) + ēġ (“island”).
How popular is Wendy?
Since 1880, 262,325 girls and 951 boys in the U.S. have been named Wendy (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #28 in 1970. Its highest rank for boys was #1273 in 1967. In 2025, 165 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Wendy
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Wendy
Names that peaked around the same time as Wendy and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Wendy FAQ
What does the name Wendy mean?
Wendy traces back to a root meaning "watercourse with a bend". A female given name. Popularized by the character in J. M. Barrie's play, Peter Pan (1904), though occasionally found earlier; the author explained that he got it from Fwendy-Wendy ("friend"), a nickname given to him by a child. Alternatively, from a diminutive of the Welsh Gwendolen; or from Wendelin, a diminutive of Wendel; therefore a doublet of Gwen. A habitational forename meaning, "island at the river bend", from Old English wende (“watercourse with a bend”) + ēġ (“island”).
How popular is the name Wendy?
Since 1880, 262,325 girls and 951 boys in the U.S. have been named Wendy (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #28 in 1970. Its highest rank for boys was #1273 in 1967. In 2025, 165 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Wendy a boy or girl name?
Wendy is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 262,325 girls and 951 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.