Wendy

girlEnglish

Wendy is an girl name of English origin, meaning “Friend (popular explanation)”.

MeaningFriend (popular explanation)
GenderGirl
OriginEnglish
PronunciationWEN-dee
TraditionModern & Classic
Used inUnited States, United Kingdom, Australia

Meaning and origin of Wendy

Wendy was made famous by J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan (1904). It is often said that Barrie took it from the nickname 'fwendy', a child's way of saying 'friend', though the name was already in rare use before him, sometimes as a short form of Gwendolyn. It was very popular in the mid twentieth century.

Is Wendy a religious name?

Wendy is a general literary name with no religious background.

How popular is Wendy?

Popular in the 1960s and 1970s; uncommon for babies today.

Gifts with the name Wendy

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Spellings and variants of Wendy

Names similar to Wendy

WrenMollyPennyGwen

More girl names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Wendy mean?

Wendy means 'Friend (popular explanation)'. It is of English origin.

Does Wendy have a religious meaning?

Wendy is a general literary name with no religious background.

How do you pronounce Wendy?

Wendy is pronounced WEN-dee.

Is Wendy a boy or girl name?

Wendy is usually a girl name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.