Marisa vs Wendy
Marisa 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Marisa was ranked #862 and Wendy #862 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Marisa was ranked #3695 and Wendy #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Marisa and Wendy over time
Marisa and Wendy appear together in 2 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one 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
Marisa and Wendy changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3695 and #2771.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Marisa #628 in 1998, Wendy #820 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Marisa held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Wendy in 11.
Highest recorded here: Marisa #628 in 1998, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order changed in 2022: Wendy moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #2073 and #2201; by 2022 that had become #3970 and #1767.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marisa #3695, Wendy #2771.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1966–2008
Marisa held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Wendy in 20.
Highest recorded here: Marisa #344 in 1966, Wendy #108 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Marisa #862, Wendy #862.
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 | Marisa | 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 | GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) | 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) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Wendy has a recorded origin (Literary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection); Marisa does not have one recorded yet.
- Marisa has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Wendy.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Marisa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Marisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #344 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2008
Highest recorded position: #344 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1966–2008).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 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