How Many People Are Named Wendell?
Complete statistics for the name Wendell: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Wendell is a classic old-school name with Germanic roots, meaning roughly 'wanderer' or 'one who wanders'. About 28,638 Wendells are alive in the US today, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 11,523 Americans. What's striking is just how much this name belongs to a specific era: it peaked in 1940 and most living Wendells are well into their senior years.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 3 is traditionally associated with creativity, self-expression, and social charm. People connected to the number 3 are said to be natural communicators who bring optimism and warmth to those around them.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 74All 54,263 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1940Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Wendell Through the Generations
Wendell tells a very clear generational story. Of the 54,263 born in the US across all time, only 28,638 are estimated to be alive today, which reflects just how long ago most Wendells were born. The average age is 74, and a huge 77% of living Wendells are over 60. That peak year of 1940 with 1,650 births captures the name at its height, squarely in the mid-20th century golden era for this kind of sturdy, no-nonsense American name. Only 2,395 Wendells are under 30, compared to 41,661 over 60, so younger generations have almost entirely moved on from it. The trend is slowly rising though, which is genuinely surprising given those numbers. It suggests a small but real revival, possibly as vintage names cycle back into fashion. It's rare without being unheard of, and carries a distinctly old-soul character.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Wendell's Germanic roots
📄 About the Name Wendell
How Many People Have the Name Wendell?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 3,353 people in the United States currently share the name Wendell. That works out to roughly 1 in every 98,852 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Wendell a Common or Rare Name?
Wendell is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Wendell Mean?
Wendell means "wanderer, one who wanders" and comes from Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Wendell in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Wendell Most Popular?
The name Wendell reached peak popularity in 1940, with 1,650 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Wendell?
Approximately 3,353 people named Wendell live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 3,353. That works out to roughly 1 in 98,852 Americans.
Is Wendell a rare name?
Wendell is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 98,852 Americans has this name.
What does the name Wendell mean?
Wendell means "wanderer, one who wanders" and comes from Germanic origins.
Is Wendell more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Wendell are male and 1% are female.
When was Wendell most popular?
Wendell peaked in 1940 with 1,650 births that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.