Marilyn vs Wendy
Marilyn 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1957, Marilyn was ranked #82 and Wendy #10 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1956, Marilyn was ranked #93 and Wendy #14 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Marilyn was ranked #629 and Wendy #734 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Marilyn was ranked #1541 and Wendy #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Marilyn and Wendy over time
Marilyn and Wendy appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Wendy held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marilyn in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Marilyn and Wendy changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1541 and #2771.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Marilyn held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Wendy in 21.
Highest recorded here: Marilyn #1541 in 2024, Wendy #846 in 1998.
The order changed in 2024: Marilyn moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #2063 and #1863; by 2024 that had become #1541 and #2771.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marilyn #1541, Wendy #2771.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1969–2018
Marilyn held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Wendy in 18.
Highest recorded here: Marilyn #326 in 1971, Wendy #108 in 1977.
The order changed in 2018: Marilyn moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #873 and #734; by 2018 that had become #629 and #734.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Marilyn #629, Wendy #734.
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 | Marilyn | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1541 (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); Marilyn does not have one recorded yet.
- Marilyn has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Wendy.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Marilyn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Marilyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #28 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 recorded1952–1956
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1956).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1541 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