Robin vs Wendy
Robin 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 1955, Robin was ranked #92 and Wendy #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Robin was ranked #169 and Wendy #502 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Robin was ranked #275 and Wendy #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Robin was ranked #323 and Wendy #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Robin and Wendy over time
Robin and Wendy appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Robin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Wendy 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.
Wendy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Robin 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Robin and Wendy changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #323 and #2771.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Robin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Wendy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Robin #294 in 2023, Wendy #820 in 1997.
The order changed in 2010: Robin moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #1752 and #1526; by 2010 that had become #1389 and #2589.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Robin #323, Wendy #2771.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1964–2022
Robin held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Wendy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Robin #159 in 2018, Wendy #147 in 1975.
The order changed in 2002: Robin moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #400 and #400; by 2002 that had become #331 and #512.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Robin #169, Wendy #502.
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 | Robin | Wendy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #176 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #541 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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); Robin does not have one recorded yet.
- Robin and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Robin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Robin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #362 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1946–2025
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in Norway, in 1993 (recorded 1946–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #202 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
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