How Many People Are Named Wendy?
Complete statistics for the name Wendy: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Wendy is a literary name with roots in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, likely coined from a childhood nickname meaning 'friend.' About 237,645 people named Wendy are living in the US today, making it 1 in 1,389 Americans. Its peak year of 1967 saw over 11,000 babies named Wendy in a single year, which tells you just how big this name once was.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 8 is traditionally associated with ambition, strength, and material success. People connected to the number 8 are often seen as natural leaders with a drive to build something lasting.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 56All 263,112 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: 1967Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Wendy Through the Generations
Wendy had a remarkable run. It spent 19 years in the US top 10, which is a serious stretch of popularity for any name. The peak came in 1967 with 11,258 births, and the numbers have been sliding ever since. Today the trend is firmly declining, and that shows up clearly in the age breakdown. Only 6% of living Wendys are under 30, just 16,657 people, while 56% are between 30 and 60, and 38% are over 60. The average age of 56 confirms this is largely a mid-century name that never fully passed to younger generations. With 263,112 all-time births and around 237,645 still living, the gap is relatively small, suggesting most Wendys born during those boom decades are still very much with us. It sits between classic and modern, familiar without feeling ancient, but new parents today are largely passing it by.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Wendy's English roots
📄 About the Name Wendy
How Many People Have the Name Wendy?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 237,645 people in the United States currently share the name Wendy. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,389 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Wendy a Common or Rare Name?
Wendy is classified as Uncommon. 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 Wendy Mean?
Wendy means "Friend, coined literary name" and comes from English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Wendy in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Wendy Most Popular?
The name Wendy reached peak popularity in 1967, with 11,258 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
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 Wendy?
Approximately 237,645 people named Wendy live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 263,112. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,389 Americans.
Is Wendy a rare name?
Wendy is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,389 Americans has this name.
What does the name Wendy mean?
Wendy means "Friend, coined literary name" and comes from English origins.
Is Wendy more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Wendy are male and 100% are female.
When was Wendy most popular?
Wendy peaked in 1967 with 11,258 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
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.