Patricia vs Wendy
Patricia 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 1978, Patricia was ranked #85 and Wendy #61 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1978, Patricia was ranked #94 and Wendy #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Patricia was ranked #197 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Patricia was ranked #458 and Wendy #502 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2009, Patricia was ranked #613 and Wendy #581 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Patricia was ranked #1407 and Wendy #1809 among girls in England and Wales.
Patricia and Wendy over time
Patricia and Wendy appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Patricia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Wendy in 2.
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.
Patricia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Wendy in none. 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1974, Wendy moved ahead of Patricia in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #61 and #66 the year before became #73 and #66.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Patricia and Wendy averaged 8.1 places apart, ending at #94 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Patricia and Wendy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1407 and #1809.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Patricia #443 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1964–2022
Patricia held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Wendy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #8 in 1965, Wendy #108 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Patricia #458, Wendy #502.
Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1953–2009
Patricia held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Wendy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #264 in 1966, Wendy #319 in 1973.
The order changed in 2009: Wendy moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #467 and #623; by 2009 that had become #613 and #581.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Patricia #613, Wendy #581.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Patricia held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Wendy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #443 in 1996, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patricia #1407, Wendy #1809.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1952–1978
Patricia held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Wendy in 22.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #8 in 1952, Wendy #10 in 1958.
The order changed in 1974: Wendy moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #61 and #66; by 1974 that had become #73 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Patricia #94, Wendy #86.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1954–1978
Patricia held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Wendy in 20.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #7 in 1955, Wendy #8 in 1958.
The order changed in 1957: Wendy moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #9 and #14; by 1957 that had become #11 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Patricia #85, Wendy #61.
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 | Patricia | 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 #608 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1809 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 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); Patricia does not have one recorded yet.
- Patricia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Wendy.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Patricia 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
Patricia
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1978
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1978).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1407 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1809 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls