Fay vs Wendy
Fay 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 1952, Fay was ranked #97 and Wendy #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Fay was ranked #660 and Wendy #894 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fay was ranked #3695 and Wendy #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Fay and Wendy over time
Fay and Wendy appear together in 2 published lists, across 37 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Fay reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fay #368 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fay held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Wendy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Fay #368 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order changed in 2018: Wendy moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #2090 and #2341; by 2018 that had become #3985 and #1887.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fay #3695, Wendy #2771.
Republic of Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1986–2013
Fay held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Wendy in 3.
Highest recorded here: Fay #422 in 1986, Wendy #227 in 1986.
The order changed in 2013: Fay moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #907 and #907; by 2013 that had become #660 and #894.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Fay #660, Wendy #894.
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 | Fay | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) | Scotland · Girls #541 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Fay does not have one recorded yet.
- Fay has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Wendy.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Fay doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Fay
Popularity journey
First recorded1986
First recorded at #422 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1986 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 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