Donna vs Wendy
Donna 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1978, Donna was ranked #48 and Wendy #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1981, Donna was ranked #66 and Wendy #85 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Donna was ranked #351 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Donna was ranked #834 and Wendy #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Wendy #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Donna and Wendy over time
Donna and Wendy appear together in 4 published lists, across 128 years of shared records. Donna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Wendy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, Donna 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1960, Donna moved ahead of Wendy in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #20 and #14 the year before became #12 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Donna and Wendy changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #5891 and #2771.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Donna and Wendy averaged 30.6 places apart, ending at #48 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Wendy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1964 to 2020, ending at #834 and #834.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Donna #441 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2020
Donna held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Wendy in 5.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Wendy #108 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Donna #834, Wendy #834.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Wendy in 19.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order changed in 2011: Wendy moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #2392 and #2589; by 2011 that had become #2432 and #1608.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Wendy #2771.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1954–1981
Donna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Wendy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Donna #6 in 1965, Wendy #8 in 1958.
The order changed in 1960: Donna moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #15 and #10; by 1960 that had become #7 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Donna #66, Wendy #85.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1953–1978
Donna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Wendy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Donna #5 in 1964, Wendy #10 in 1958.
The order changed in 1960: Donna moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #20 and #14; by 1960 that had become #12 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Donna #48, Wendy #86.
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 | Donna | 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 | /ˈwɛn.di/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | Scotland · Girls #541 (2024) |
| 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); Donna does not have one recorded yet.
- Donna and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Donna doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Donna
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–1982
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1964 (recorded 1953–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2771 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls