Namewise

Robyn vs Wendy

Robyn 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 2022, Robyn was ranked #28 and Wendy #502 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Robyn was ranked #48 and Wendy #541 among girls in Scotland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1975, Robyn was ranked #80 and Wendy #59 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1974, Robyn was ranked #85 and Wendy #66 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 1998, Robyn was ranked #67 and Wendy #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Robyn was ranked #76 and Wendy #1809 among girls in England and Wales.

Robyn and Wendy over time

Robyn and Wendy appear together in 4 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Robyn held the stronger position in more years in 3 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 1966, Wendy moved ahead of Robyn in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #20 and #21 the year before became #24 and #22.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Robyn and Wendy changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1975, ending at #80 and #59.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Robyn and Wendy averaged 8.0 places apart, ending at #85 and #66.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Robyn and Wendy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #76 and #1809.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Robyn #8 in 1956, Wendy #8 in 1958.

List by list

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

    Robyn held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Wendy in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Robyn #64 in 2023, Wendy #820 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Robyn #76, Wendy #1809.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1982–2022

    Robyn held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Wendy in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Robyn #24 in 2018, Wendy #147 in 1982.

    The order changed in 1988: Robyn moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #329 and #272; by 1988 that had become #237 and #252.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Robyn #28, Wendy #502.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1952–1974

    Robyn held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Wendy in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Robyn #6 in 1953, Wendy #10 in 1958.

    The order changed in 1966: Wendy moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #20 and #21; by 1966 that had become #24 and #22.

    Most recent shared year, 1974: Robyn #85, Wendy #66.

  • New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1954–1975

    Robyn held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Wendy in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Robyn #8 in 1956, Wendy #8 in 1958.

    The order changed in 1963: Wendy moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #10 and #11; by 1963 that had become #15 and #10.

    Most recent shared year, 1975: Robyn #80, Wendy #59.

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 Robyn

Pairs where Robyn 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 South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia'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 South Wales, Australia 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 Robyn, Wendy
FieldRobynWendy
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA feminine variant of Robin, itself a diminutive of Robert.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.
OriginGermanic, feminine diminutive formLiterary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection
Pronunciation/ˈɹɑb.ɪn//ˈwɛn.di/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #19 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #1809 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Robyn is recorded with a Germanic, feminine diminutive form origin, while Wendy is recorded with a Literary invention (English), with a possible Welsh connection origin.
  • Robyn and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
  • Robyn's recorded meaning differs from Wendy's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Robyn

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #7 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 recorded1952–1974

    Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1974).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #76 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