Katrina vs Wendy
Katrina 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, Katrina was ranked #31 and Wendy #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1981, Katrina was ranked #39 and Wendy #85 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Katrina was ranked #164 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2009, Katrina was ranked #524 and Wendy #581 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Katrina was ranked #716 and Wendy #621 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Katrina was ranked #4192 and Wendy #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Katrina and Wendy over time
Katrina and Wendy appear together in 5 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Katrina held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Wendy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, Katrina 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katrina moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1971 as Wendy fell out of it to #54, having been #41 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Katrina moved ahead of Wendy in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #43 and #41 the year before became #36 and #54.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katrina and Wendy changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2019, ending at #716 and #621.
- Longest-running competitions
Katrina and Wendy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #716 and #621.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katrina #177 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1964–2019
Katrina held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Wendy in 31.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #172 in 1978, Wendy #108 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Katrina #716, Wendy #621.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katrina held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Wendy in 3.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #177 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order changed in 2022: Wendy moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1785 and #2201; by 2022 that had become #1767 and #1767.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katrina #4192, Wendy #2771.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1962–1978
Katrina held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Wendy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #31 in 1978, Wendy #18 in 1962.
The order changed in 1971: Katrina moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #43 and #41; by 1971 that had become #36 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Katrina #31, Wendy #86.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1965–1981
Katrina held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Wendy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #16 in 1975, Wendy #15 in 1965.
The order changed in 1973: Katrina moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #36 and #35; by 1973 that had become #36 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Katrina #39, Wendy #85.
Norway · Girls10 shared years, 1978–2009
Katrina held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Wendy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #405 in 2005, Wendy #511 in 1983.
The order changed in 1985: Katrina moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #596 and #511; by 1985 that had become #611 and #685.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Katrina #524, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Katrina | 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 | 3 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #898 (2024) | Scotland · Girls #541 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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); Katrina does not have one recorded yet.
- Katrina has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Wendy.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Katrina 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
Katrina
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1965–1990
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1965–1990).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 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