Karen vs Wendy
Karen 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 1978, Karen was ranked #18 and Wendy #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1981, Karen was ranked #34 and Wendy #85 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Karen was ranked #145 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2009, Karen was ranked #147 and Wendy #581 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Wendy #621 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #2440 and Wendy #1809 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Wendy over time
Karen and Wendy appear together in 5 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Karen 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.
Karen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Wendy 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.
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 moved ahead of the other
In 1955, Karen moved ahead of Wendy in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #13 and #12 the year before became #7 and #15.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Karen and Wendy averaged 29.3 places apart, ending at #18 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Wendy were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 36 years, from 1953 to 2009, ending at #147 and #581.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Wendy in 1.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Wendy #108 in 1977.
The order changed in 2019: Wendy moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #629 and #734; by 2019 that had become #871 and #621.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Wendy #621.
Norway · Girls36 shared years, 1953–2009
Karen held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Wendy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #67 in 1953, Wendy #319 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Karen #147, Wendy #581.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Wendy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order changed in 2020: Wendy moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1940 and #2040; by 2020 that had become #1773 and #1449.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #2440, Wendy #1809.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1954–1981
Karen held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Wendy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1957, Wendy #8 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Karen #34, Wendy #85.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1952–1978
Karen held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Wendy in 3.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1963, Wendy #10 in 1958.
The order changed in 1955: Karen moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #13 and #12; by 1955 that had become #7 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Karen #18, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Karen | 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 | 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 | Norway · Girls #442 (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); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Karen and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Karen 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
Karen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #70 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1963 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 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