The baby name Wendy bridges traditional favorites and modern inventions.
Thanks to Kristin and Lola for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
BEFORE BARRIE
Long before we met the eldest Darling child, a handful of women and men answered to the name.
Odds are that the baby name Wendy shortened traditional names like Gwendolen or Wendell. But it also was recorded as an independent name in 1615 in Cambridge, England. Given the long history of Germanic names like Wendela and Wendelmar, it’s easy to imagine Wendy in use.
WENDY DARLING
But until the year 1904, the baby name Wendy was virtually unknown.
That’s the year JM Barrie – a Scottish novelist and playwright – penned Peter Pan. The stories were first written to amuse the Llewelyn Davies boys, five sons of his friends Sylvia and Arthur. Both parents died young, leaving Barrie a legal guardian of the boys.
It’s said that Barrie borrowed Wendy from a nickname.
Margaret Henley was the young daughter of poet William Ernest Henley. (He’s best remembered for “Invictus.”) Margaret referred to Barrie as “friendy,” but couldn’t say her Rs. So “friendy” became “fwendy.”
Drop the F, and … well, you know the story.
A 1911 novel, titled Peter and Wendy, followed the 1904 play. It’s the Disney animated classic from 1953 that cemented the characters in our imagination. Though adaptations and re-imaginings abound.
Wendy Darling remains mostly the same across the stories.
The big sister to Peter and Michael, she mixes sensible schoolgirl traits with a fanciful name and a daring streak. Unlike Peter, Wendy ultimately accepts that she must grow up. A sequel tells us that Wendy’s daughter, Jane, will eventually visit Neverland with Peter, too.
WENDY BARRIE
In the 1930s, English actor Marguerite Jenkins appeared in a string of box office hits. She continued to act into the 1940s, when she transitioned to hosting one of the first television talk shows.
Her stage name? Wendy Barrie.
Wendy was Marguerite’s middle name. And Barrie? It nodded to her godfather – JM Barrie himself.
BY the NUMBERS
The actor deserves credit for the name’s wider use.
In 1912, the year following the publication of Wendy and Peter, fewer than five girls were given the baby name Wendy.
In 1936, the baby name Wendy entered the US Top 1000 at #826.
It wasn’t until 1938 that more than 100 girls were named Wendy in a single year. By 1939, it ranked in the US Top 500 and climbing.
THE GOOD LITTLE WITCH
In 1954, the comics gave us Wendy the Good Little Witch, a companion for Casper, the friendly ghost.
She graduated to her own book by 1960. The comics have continued into the twenty-first century.
Multiple adaptations have depicted Wendy, too, from movies to video games.
While this Wendy might not be top-of-mind this decade, we’re always just one reboot away from the character’s revival.
DAVE THOMAS
American parents have another use of the baby name Wendy that comes to mind: the fast food chain founded by Dave Thomas.
Thomas famously named his restaurants after daughter Wendy. Turns out that Wendy’s birth name was Melinda Lou Thomas – but as a child, she couldn’t quite say her name, and Wendy stuck.
Founded in 1969, the chain’s mascot is based on Wendy Thomas herself.
While the burger joint might give some parents pause, there’s no question that Wendy is a given name first and foremost.
TOP 100 FAVORITE
Sometime after the witch and before the hamburgers, the baby name Wendy started to rise.
It first entered the US Top 100 in 1954. The name peaked at #28 in 1970, and remained a Top 100 favorite until 1981.
It fit with other popular late 1960s/1970s favorites. Wendy rode the school bus with Tammy and Sherri, Tina and Julie.
THE SHINING and MORE FAMOUS WENDYS
Along the way, quite a few famous uses of the baby name Wendy occurred.
If you know your classic horror movies, Jack and Wendy Torrance sign on to be the winter caretakers at the Overlook in 1980’s The Shining. It’s based on Stephen King’s 1977 novel.
The late Sister Wendy is a British nun who became an unlikely art expert in the 1990s, via a series of acclaimed documentaries on the BBC.
Actors include Wendy Richard of Are You Being Served? and EastEnders, as well as Wendie Malick from Just Shoot Me! and Hot in Cleveland.
Wendy O. Williams pushed boundaries as head of daring punk band The Plasmatics. Her edgy work earned her a Grammy nomination in 1985.
A different Wendy Williams has hosted a syndicated talk show since 2008.
LITERARY, WEARABLE WENDY
As storybook as Alice, as sparky as Sadie, the baby name Wendy could fit right in to the US Top 100. Imagine hearing it in the company of Luna, Lily, and Willow; Ivy, Ruby, and Piper.
Wendy fits.
Except it doesn’t.
Because the baby name Wendy remained in the US Top 100 until 1981. It recently left the Top 1000, departing after the year 2018.
It may simply be that the baby name Wendy needs a few more decades of rest before it feels truly fresh and different again.
Or not.
Because Disney’s live action Peter Pan and Wendy, starring Ever Anderson as Wendy – is due out in 2022. That might just herald this name’s return … a little earlier than we might have otherwise expected.
What do you think of the baby name Wendy?
First published July 17, 2012, this post was revised and re-published on November 2, 2021.
I am the only person under 30 to defend Tammy as vintage-adorable and not just saccharine ’60s, so grain of salt… but I like Wendy.
Like my feelings on Tammy, I’m probably not brave enough to use either as a legal name, and I am pretty sure my husband would collapse into a pile of “no, no, no” if I tried, but either makes a cute nickname for a more serious name.
It helps I once knew the most beautiful Wendy, with the most gorgeous Caribbean accent. She was gorgeous, her voice was beautiful, and she was a social worker. So I think “angelic” when I think Wendy.
I respect a defender of Tammy & Wendy!
I know a baby Wendy (short for Wendolyn), and the name suits her. Very good-natured and sweet. I do however prefer literary Wendy’s first middle name, Moira (or perhaps even her surname, Darling).
Then there’s Windy, which has a slightly more wild vibe that I like (plus I like the old song by The Association; “Who’s tripping down the streets of the city / smiling at everybody she sees [ . . . ] Everyone knows it’s Windy”).
I really like Wendy, especially as a nickname for Gwendolen (along with Gwen and the totally inspired choice I have heard – Dolly). Unfortunately the Wendy’s fast food connection is strong in my area, and my first born son has redish hair, so the connection would be far to strong!
BTW the link to Gwendolen (Gwendolyn) only shows the first few lines 🙁 another casualty of the move!
I like it. I think it’s sweet. I know it’s dated to other people but not to me.
I recently discovered that there’s a Wendell in the family tree. Wendolyn might make for an interesting tribute name. Being a GenXer, Wendy is tainted for me by bad school memories.
I have never liked this name; it seems too slight and not in a good way at all. IMO.
I had to google Wendy O. Williams, had no idea who she was.. I associate the name more with Wendy Williams (talk show host).. never seen her talk show but she is often featured on the Soup for her outlandish and sometimes brainless sayings.
I think if Wendy was only associated with Peter Pan, I would love it. But right now it still kinda seems like a middle age not too fresh name, and that Wendy Williams (show host) association leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Yay for Wendy! I love J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, and Disney’s Peter Pan is my son’s favorite movie. I remember being so intrigued by her name, Wendy Moira Angela Darling, when I was a little girl. Unfortunately, the Wendy’s fast food chain has ruined it for me. I would consider Gwendolen or Winnifred with the nickname of Wendy, though.
Incidentally, my mother-in-law once told me she wished her name was Wendy when she was a little girl, due to her love of the character. I found it rather interesting that she did not become one, as her middle name Wendellyn lends itself to the nickname easily and she has never liked her first name.
You forgot Wendy Williams, radio and television personality!
For some reason ive always had a soft spot for Wendy, even though I cant see myself ever actually using it.