Iselin vs Wendy
Iselin 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, Iselin was ranked #81 and Wendy #581 among girls in Norway.
Iselin and Wendy over time
Iselin and Wendy appear together in 1 published list, across 19 years of shared records. Iselin held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Wendy in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 1 of those lists, and Iselin 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.
List by list
Norway · Girls19 shared years, 1973–2009
Iselin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Wendy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Iselin #60 in 1991, Wendy #319 in 1973.
The order changed in 1978: Iselin moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #552 and #533; by 1978 that had become #250 and #540.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Iselin #81, Wendy #581.
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 Wendy
Pairs where Wendy shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jennifer vs Wendy
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #1 in 1956, Wendy #10 in 1958.
Jennifer · Wendy · 27 shared years, 1952–1978 · Peaked in the same years
- Julie vs Wendy
In 1959, Julie moved ahead of Wendy in New Zealand · Girls — #13 and #8 the year before became #5 and #10.
Julie · Wendy · 28 shared years, 1954–1981 · One moved ahead of the other
- Deborah vs Wendy
In 1958, Deborah moved ahead of Wendy in New Zealand · Girls — #15 and #10 the year before became #6 and #8.
Deborah · Wendy · 28 shared years, 1954–1981 · One moved ahead of the other
- Joanne vs Wendy
In 1964, Joanne moved ahead of Wendy in New Zealand · Girls — #11 and #10 the year before became #6 and #12.
Joanne · Wendy · 28 shared years, 1954–1981 · One moved ahead of the other
Side by side
| Field | Iselin | 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 | NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #375 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1809 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Wendy has a recorded origin (Literary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection); Iselin does not have one recorded yet.
- Iselin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Wendy.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Iselin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
How each name got here
Iselin
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #538 among girls in Norway in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2025
Highest recorded position: #60 among girls in Norway, in 1991 (recorded 1973–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #375 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1809 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls