Alisa vs Wendy
Alisa and Wendycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Girls
In 2009, Alisa was ranked #404 and Wendy #581 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Alisa was ranked #502 and Wendy #502 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alisa was ranked #763 and Wendy #1809 among girls in England and Wales.
Alisa and Wendy over time
Alisa and Wendy appear together in 3 published lists, across 54 years of shared records. Alisa held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Wendy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Wendy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alisa in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alisa and Wendy changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #763 and #1809.
- Longest-running competitions
Alisa and Wendy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #763 and #1809.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alisa held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Wendy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alisa #549 in 2015, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Alisa moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #1045 and #1012; by 2006 that had become #958 and #1585.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alisa #763, Wendy #1809.
Norway · Girls13 shared years, 1974–2009
Alisa held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Wendy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alisa #404 in 2009, Wendy #391 in 1981.
The order changed in 1991: Alisa moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #637 and #588; by 1991 that had become #535 and #678.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Alisa #404, Wendy #581.
Republic of Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2002–2022
Alisa held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Wendy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alisa #325 in 2019, Wendy #502 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alisa #502, Wendy #502.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alisa | Wendy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Popularized by J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan, where the character's name was created from the nickname 'fwendy' ('friend') given to Barrie by a young friend. Occasionally appeared before the play and may relate to Welsh names beginning with 'gwen' ('white, blessed'), though the name only became common after Barrie's play. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Literary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈwɛn.di/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #337 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1809 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Wendy has a recorded origin (Literary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection); Alisa does not have one recorded yet.
- Alisa has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Wendy.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Alisa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Alisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #589 among girls in Norway in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1974–2025
Highest recorded position: #255 among girls in Norway, in 2022 (recorded 1974–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #763 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Wendy
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1981
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1958 (recorded 1954–1981).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1809 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls