Joanna vs Wendy

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 1981, Joanna was ranked #43 and Wendy #85 among girls in New Zealand.

• New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  In 1976, Joanna was ranked #99 and Wendy #64 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Northern Ireland · Girls

  In 1998, Joanna was ranked #145 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.

• Republic of Ireland · Girls

  In 2022, Joanna was ranked #357 and Wendy #502 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

• Scotland · Girls

  In 2024, Joanna was ranked #384 and Wendy #541 among girls in Scotland.

• England and Wales · Girls

  In 2025, Joanna was ranked #514 and Wendy #1809 among girls in England and Wales.

• Norway · Girls

  In 2005, Joanna was ranked #550 and Wendy #623 among girls in Norway.

Joanna and Wendy over time

Joanna and Wendy appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Joanna held the stronger position in more years in 4 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 3 of those lists, Joanna 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.

List by list

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

  Joanna held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Wendy in 15.

  Highest recorded here: Joanna #104 in 1982, Wendy #108 in 1977.

  The order changed in 1981: Joanna moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #147 and #124; by 1981 that had become #134 and #148.

  Most recent shared year, 2022: Joanna #357, Wendy #502.

• Norway · Girls31 shared years, 1955–2005

  Joanna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Wendy in 2.

  Highest recorded here: Joanna #93 in 1983, Wendy #319 in 1973.

  The order changed in 1964: Joanna moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #504 and #479; by 1964 that had become #435 and #541.

  Most recent shared year, 2005: Joanna #550, Wendy #623.

• England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

  Joanna held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Wendy in 0.

  Highest recorded here: Joanna #125 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.

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

  Most recent shared year, 2025: Joanna #514, Wendy #1809.

• New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1968–1981

  Joanna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Wendy in 5.

  Highest recorded here: Joanna #29 in 1970, Wendy #25 in 1968.

  The order changed in 1974: Joanna moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #45 and #42; by 1974 that had become #39 and #54.

  Most recent shared year, 1981: Joanna #43, Wendy #85.

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.

Side by side

How each name got here