Wendy
Origin of the name Wendy:
Originated as a nickname of novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie bestowed by Margaret Henley, the young daughter of English poet and editor W.E. Henley. She called Barrie her "Fwendy" (friendly), which evolved to "Fwendy-Wendy." Barrie first used the name in 1904 for a character in his Peter Pan, an ever-popular play which firmly established Wendy as a given name throughout the English-speaking world. Alternatively, Wendy is a modern pet form of Gwendolyn, most likely influenced by the previous name.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman. Buy the bookDoes Wendy sound...
Sibling Names for Wendy...
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Reader Contributions
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- Comments and insights on the name Wendy: | Edit
May (particularly by cruel middle school boys) always be associated with Wendy's fast food chain
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- Meanings and history of the name Wendy: | Edit
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- Famous real-life people named Wendy: | Edit
Wendy Wasserstein, American playwright
Wendy O. Williams, American punk rock singer, known as "The Queen of Shock Rock"
Wendy Turnbull, Australian tennis player
Wendy Hiller, English actress
Wendy Matthews, Australian-Canadian singer- Wendy in song, story & screen: | Edit
Wendy in "Peter Pan"
"Wendy", song by the Beach Boys
"Wendy Clear", a song by blink-182
Wendy Testaburger, student in the cartoon "South Park"
NameVoyager US Popularity of Wendy Over Time
NameMapper Current Popularity of Wendy by State
Global Popularity of the Name Wendy
- #458 in United States
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