Selam vs Wendy
Selam 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.
Norway · Girls
In 1998, Selam was ranked #478 and Wendy #589 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2011, Selam was ranked #5785 and Wendy #1608 among girls in England and Wales.
Selam and Wendy over time
Selam and Wendy appear together in 1 published list, across 12 years of shared records. Selam held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Wendy in 0.
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.
Wendy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Selam 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.
List by list
Norway · Girls12 shared years, 1975–1998
Selam held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Wendy in 4.
Highest recorded here: Selam #254 in 1991, Wendy #436 in 1980.
The order changed in 1985: Selam moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #606 and #511; by 1985 that had become #460 and #685.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Selam #478, Wendy #589.
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 | Selam | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5785 (2011) | 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) | 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); Selam does not have one recorded yet.
- Selam and Wendy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Wendy; Selam doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
Selam
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #566 among girls in Norway in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1975–2002
Highest recorded position: #254 among girls in Norway, in 1991 (recorded 1975–2002).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2011
Most recently recorded at #5785 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011.
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