Anne vs Wendy
Anne 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1972, Anne was ranked #91 and Wendy #35 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Anne was ranked #80 and Wendy #64 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2009, Anne was ranked #97 and Wendy #581 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Anne was ranked #229 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Anne was ranked #502 and Wendy #502 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Wendy #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Wendy #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Wendy over time
Anne and Wendy appear together in 5 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Wendy in 2.
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.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Wendy in none. 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1956, Wendy moved ahead of Anne in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #13 and #15 the year before became #15 and #14.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Wendy averaged 7.0 places apart, ending at #80 and #64.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Wendy were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 36 years, from 1953 to 2009, ending at #97 and #581.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1964–2022
Anne held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Wendy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Wendy #108 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anne #502, Wendy #502.
Norway · Girls36 shared years, 1953–2009
Anne held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Wendy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1953, Wendy #319 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Anne #97, Wendy #581.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Wendy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Wendy #2771.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1952–1976
Anne held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Wendy in 21.
Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Wendy #10 in 1958.
The order changed in 1956: Wendy moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #13 and #15; by 1956 that had become #15 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Anne #80, Wendy #64.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1954–1972
Anne held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Wendy in 18.
Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Wendy #8 in 1958.
The order changed in 1955: Wendy moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #13 and #18; by 1955 that had become #17 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Anne #91, Wendy #35.
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 | Anne | Wendy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later. | 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 | Hebrew, via French transmission | Literary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | /ˈwɛn.di/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ann, Ane, Anna | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #541 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne is recorded with a Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Wendy is recorded with a Literary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection origin.
- Anne and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
- Anne's recorded meaning differs from Wendy's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Wendy a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Anne
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #1 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2771 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls