Janet vs Wendy
Janet 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 1966, Janet was ranked #80 and Wendy #18 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Janet was ranked #82 and Wendy #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 1991, Janet was ranked #652 and Wendy #678 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Janet was ranked #896 and Wendy #734 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Janet was ranked #4867 and Wendy #1809 among girls in England and Wales.
Janet and Wendy over time
Janet and Wendy appear together in 5 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Wendy held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Janet in 2.
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.
Janet 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janet and Wendy changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4867 and #1809.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Janet and Wendy averaged 56.9 places apart, ending at #896 and #734.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Wendy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #1809.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Janet #1031 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1964–2018
Janet held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Wendy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Wendy #108 in 1977.
The order changed in 2012: Wendy moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #439 and #490; by 2012 that had become #907 and #907.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Janet #896, Wendy #734.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Janet held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Wendy in 25.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Janet #4867, Wendy #1809.
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1953–1991
Janet held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Wendy in 3.
Highest recorded here: Janet #243 in 1955, Wendy #319 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Janet #652, Wendy #678.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Wendy in 14.
Highest recorded here: Janet #36 in 1952, Wendy #10 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Janet #82, Wendy #21.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Wendy in 13.
Highest recorded here: Janet #19 in 1954, Wendy #8 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Janet #80, Wendy #18.
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 | Janet | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1809 (2025) |
| 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); Janet does not have one recorded yet.
- Janet and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Janet doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1809 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls