Name meaning & stats
Wendy
Wendy means “friend” (English origin). 262,643 US babies since 1940, peak 1967. Notable Wendys are 1.7× over-represented as journalists.
What it means
“friend”
EnglishDebated
Popularised by Peter Pan (1904); Barrie said it came from “Fwendy”.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1967
262,643 US babies were named Wendy between 1940 and 2025.
Where Wendys end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Writer | 1.3× | High · 52 people |
| Actor | 0.7× | High · 40 people |
| Journalist | 1.7× | High · 29 people |
| Politician | 1.0× | High · 29 people |
Among notable women who are journalists, Wendys show up 1.7× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Wendy has a surprise career: 1.8×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 94% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1967)