Namewise

Emma vs Wendy

Emma 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, Emma was ranked #1 and Wendy #581 among girls in Norway.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 1998, Emma was ranked #2 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1981, Emma was ranked #6 and Wendy #85 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Emma was ranked #11 and Wendy #502 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1978, Emma was ranked #14 and Wendy #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Wendy #541 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Wendy #2771 among girls in England and Wales.

Emma and Wendy over time

Emma and Wendy appear together in 5 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Wendy in 0.

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 4 of those lists, and Emma 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New Zealand · Girls, Emma moved into the top 50 at #33 in 1974 as Wendy fell out of it to #54, having been #42 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1973, Emma moved ahead of Wendy in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #64 and #57 the year before became #49 and #66.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Emma and Wendy changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #11 and #502.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 48 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Emma rose about as far as Wendy fell — from #245 and #206 in 1964 to #11 and #502 in 2022.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Emma and Wendy were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 33 years, from 1953 to 2009, ending at #1 and #581.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Wendy #820 in 1997.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1964–2022

    Emma held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Wendy in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Wendy #108 in 1977.

    The order changed in 1972: Emma moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #131 and #129; by 1972 that had become #86 and #162.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Emma #11, Wendy #502.

  • Norway · Girls33 shared years, 1953–2009

    Emma held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Wendy in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2005, Wendy #319 in 1973.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2009: Emma #1, Wendy #581.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Wendy in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Wendy #820 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Wendy #2771.

  • New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1969–1981

    Emma held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Wendy in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #6 in 1981, Wendy #27 in 1969.

    The order changed in 1974: Emma moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #56 and #42; by 1974 that had become #33 and #54.

    Most recent shared year, 1981: Emma #6, Wendy #85.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1969–1978

    Emma held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Wendy in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #14 in 1976, Wendy #41 in 1970.

    The order changed in 1973: Emma moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #64 and #57; by 1973 that had become #49 and #66.

    Most recent shared year, 1978: Emma #14, 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Emma

Pairs where Emma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Wendy

Pairs where Wendy shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.

The 1980s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Emma, Wendy
FieldEmmaWendy
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA shortened form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'irmin' ('whole, great'), from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II and later King Canute; further popularised by Jane Austen's 1816 novel Emma.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.
OriginGermanicLiterary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection
Pronunciation/ˈɛm.ə//ˈwɛn.di/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #1 (2025)Scotland · Girls #541 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Emma is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Wendy is recorded with a Literary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection origin.
  • Emma and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
  • Emma'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.

How each name got here

Emma

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #342 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1969–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1969–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Wendy

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1981

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1958 (recorded 1954–1981).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #2771 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls