Kerrie vs Wendy
Kerrie 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 1975, Kerrie was ranked #78 and Wendy #62 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Kerrie was ranked #164 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Kerrie was ranked #544 and Wendy #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2012, Kerrie was ranked #4838 and Wendy #1809 among girls in England and Wales.
Kerrie and Wendy over time
Kerrie and Wendy appear together in 3 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kerrie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kerrie and Wendy averaged 18.5 places apart, ending at #78 and #62.
- Longest-running competitions
Kerrie and Wendy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1972 to 2020, ending at #544 and #834.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kerrie #428 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1972–2020
Kerrie held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Wendy in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kerrie #122 in 1991, Wendy #108 in 1977.
The order changed in 2020: Kerrie moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #871 and #621; by 2020 that had become #544 and #834.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Kerrie #544, Wendy #834.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1952–1975
Kerrie held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Wendy in 23.
Highest recorded here: Kerrie #28 in 1957, Wendy #10 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Kerrie #78, Wendy #62.
England and Wales · Girls16 shared years, 1996–2012
Kerrie held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Wendy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Kerrie #428 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order changed in 2004: Wendy moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #996 and #1269; by 2004 that had become #2112 and #1209.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Kerrie #4838, Wendy #1809.
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 | Kerrie | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #764 (2021) | Scotland · Girls #541 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Kerrie does not have one recorded yet.
- Kerrie and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Kerrie doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Kerrie
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #54 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 recorded1952–1975
Highest recorded position: #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1975).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #764 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2021.
Republic of Ireland · 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