Namewise

Linda vs Wendy

Linda 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, Linda was ranked #39 and Wendy #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1979, Linda was ranked #76 and Wendy #74 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2009, Linda was ranked #276 and Wendy #581 among girls in Norway.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 1998, Linda was ranked #301 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Linda was ranked #747 and Wendy #502 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Linda was ranked #1892 and Wendy #1809 among girls in England and Wales.

Linda and Wendy over time

Linda and Wendy appear together in 5 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Linda held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Wendy in 1.

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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.

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 1962, Linda moved ahead of Wendy in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #22 and #16 the year before became #16 and #18.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Linda and Wendy changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1892 and #1809.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Linda and Wendy averaged 16.1 places apart, ending at #39 and #86.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Linda and Wendy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1892 and #1809.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Linda #638 in 1997, Wendy #820 in 1997.

List by list

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

    Linda held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Wendy in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Linda #13 in 1973, Wendy #108 in 1977.

    The order changed in 2022: Wendy moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #628 and #834; by 2022 that had become #747 and #502.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Linda #747, Wendy #502.

  • Norway · Girls36 shared years, 1953–2009

    Linda held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Wendy in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Linda #1 in 1975, Wendy #319 in 1973.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2009: Linda #276, Wendy #581.

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

    Linda held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Wendy in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Linda #638 in 1997, Wendy #820 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2025: Wendy moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #1406 and #2771; by 2025 that had become #1892 and #1809.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #1892, Wendy #1809.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1952–1978

    Linda held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Wendy in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Linda #12 in 1963, Wendy #10 in 1958.

    The order changed in 1962: Linda moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #22 and #16; by 1962 that had become #16 and #18.

    Most recent shared year, 1978: Linda #39, Wendy #86.

  • New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1954–1979

    Linda held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Wendy in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Linda #7 in 1957, Wendy #8 in 1958.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1979: Linda #76, Wendy #74.

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 Linda

Pairs where Linda shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Wendy

Pairs where Wendy shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.

The 1970s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Linda, Wendy
FieldLindaWendy
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedPopularized 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.
OriginNot yet recordedLiterary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈwɛn.di/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #1809 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Wendy has a recorded origin (Literary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection); Linda does not have one recorded yet.
  • Linda and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Linda 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

Linda

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Wendy

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1981

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1958 (recorded 1954–1981).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1809 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls