Wendy is a given name now generally given to girls in English-speaking countries. In Britain, Wendy appeared as a masculine name in a parish record in 1615. It was also used as a surname in Britain from at least the 17th century. Its popularity in Britain as a feminine name is owed to the character

Wendy Darling Wendy Moira Angela Darling is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists of the 1904 play and 1911 novel ''Peter and Wendy'' by J. M. Barrie, as well as in most adaptations in other media. Her exact age is not specified in the origin ...

from the 1904 play ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...

'' and its 1911 novelisation ''

Peter and Wendy ''Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up'' or ''Peter and Wendy'', often known simply as ''Peter Pan'', is a work by J. M. Barrie, in the form of a 1904 play and a 1911 novel. Both versions tell the story of Peter Pan, a mischievous li ...

'' by

J. M. Barrie Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, (; 9 May 1860 19 June 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several succ ...

. Its popularity reached a peak in the 1960s, and subsequently declined. The name was inspired by young

Margaret Henley Margaret Emma Henley (4 September 1888 – 11 February 1894) was the daughter of William Ernest Henley and his wife Anna Henley (née Boyle). Margaret's friendship with J. M. Barrie, whom she called "fwendy" (i.e., "friendy"), was the inspiration ...

, daughter of Barrie's poet friend

W. E. Henley William Ernest Henley (23 August 184911 July 1903) was an English poet, writer, critic and editor. Though he wrote several books of poetry, Henley is remembered most often for his 1875 poem " Invictus". A fixture in London literary circles, the ...

. With the common childhood difficulty pronouncing ''R''s, Margaret reportedly used to call him "my fwiendy-wendy". In Germany after 1986, the name Wendy became popular because it is the name of a magazine (targeted specifically at young girls) about horses and horse riding.

People

Business and politics

* Wendy Davis, American politician *

Wendi Deng Wendi Deng Murdoch (; born Deng Wen Di; December 5, 1968) is a Chinese-born American entrepreneur, investor, movie producer, media mogul, and collector of Chinese contemporary art. Early life and education Wendi Deng was born in Jinan, Shandon ...

, Chinese-born American businesswoman * Wendy Morgan, Guernsey politician *

Wendy Thomas Melinda Lou "Wendy" Thomas-Morse (born September 14, 1961) is the daughter and fourth child of American businessman Dave Thomas (businessman), Dave Thomas, the founder of the fast food brand Wendy's. Morse is best known for being the namesake a ...

(born 1961), daughter of fast food chain Wendy's founder Dave Thomas and the company's namesake *

Wendy Thomas (politician) Wendy E. N. Thomas (born 1958 or 1959) is an American microbiologist and politician who served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 2018 until 2020, representing Hillsborough County's 21st district, which contains the town of Mer ...

(born 1958 or 1959), New Hampshire state representative

Film, theatre, television, and radio

Wendy Beckett Wendy Mary Beckett (25 February 1930 – 26 December 2018), better known as Sister Wendy, was a British religious sister and art historian who became known internationally during the 1990s when she presented a series of BBC television document ...

(1930–2018), British religious sister and art historian * Wendy Bergen (1956–2017), American television journalist *

Wendy Craig Anne Gwendolyn "Wendy" Craig (born 20 June 1934) is an English actress who is best known for her appearances in the sitcoms ''Not in Front of the Children'', '' ...And Mother Makes Three'', '' ...And Mother Makes Five'' and ''Butterflies''. ...

(born 1934), English actress * Wendy Davis (born 1966), American actress *

Wendy Greengross Wendy Elsa Greengross (29 April 1925 – 10 October 2012) was a British general practitioner and broadcaster. ''The Independent'' called her "a pioneering counsellor and one of the leading figures in fighting for equal rights for the disabled ...

(1925–2012), English general practitioner and broadcaster *

Wendy Hiller Dame Wendy Margaret Hiller, (15 August 1912 – 14 May 2003) was an English film and stage actress who enjoyed a varied acting career that spanned nearly 60 years. Writer Joel Hirschorn, in his 1984 compilation ''Rating the Movie Stars'', desc ...

(1912–2003), English actress *

Wendy Hoopes Wendy Hoopes (born 4 November 1972) is an American actress most widely celebrated for her roles on MTV's animated series ''Daria'', where she provided the voices for three different main characters ( Jane Lane, Helen Morgendorffer, and Quinn Mor ...

(born 1972), Malaysian American voice actress *

Wendy Kaufman Wendy Kaufman is an American television personality, known for being the spokesperson for Snapple and for her two stints on '' Celebrity Fit Club''. Early life and education Kaufman was born in North Woodmere, New York, to a homemaking mother ...

(born 1958), American television personality *

Wendie Malick Wendie Malick (born December 13, 1950) is an American actress and former fashion model, known for her roles in various television comedies. She starred as Judith Tupper Stone in the HBO sitcom '' Dream On'', and as Nina Van Horn in the NBC si ...

(born 1950), American actress and former fashion model *

Wendy Mesley Wendy is a given name now generally given to girls in English-speaking countries. In Britain, Wendy appeared as a masculine name in a parish record in 1615. It was also used as a surname in Britain from at least the 17th century. Its popularity ...

(born 1957), Canadian television journalist and reporter * Wendy Morgan, English actress * Wendy Morgan, Canadian film director *

Wendy Padbury Wendy Padbury (born 7 December 1947) is a British actress and former talent agent. She has appeared in television series since 1966, including as Zoe Heriot, a companion to Patrick Troughton's Doctor in ''Doctor Who'', from 1968 to 1969. Earl ...

(born 1947), English actress *

Wendi Peters Wendi Louise Peters (born 29 February 1968) is an English actress. Peters began her acting career in theatre, with appearances in various productions including ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1991), ''Guys and Dolls'' (1991), ''Into the Woods'' (199 ...

(born 1968), English actress *

Wendy Phillips Wendy Phillips (born January 2, 1952) is an American actress, known for her roles on television series including ''Falcon Crest'', '' Homefront'' and ''Promised Land''. Life and career Phillips was born in Brooklyn, New York. She made her scree ...

(born 1952), American actress *

Wendy Richard Wendy Richard (born Wendy Emerton; 20 July 1943 – 26 February 2009) was an English actress, known for her television roles as Miss Shirley Brahms on the BBC sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'' from 1972 to 1985, and Pauline Fowler on the soa ...

(1943–2009), English actress *

Wendy Robie Wendy Robie is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Nadine Hurley in David Lynch's television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991) and the prequel film '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' (1992). She also starred in two of Wes Cr ...

(born 1953), American actress *

Wendy Raquel Robinson Wendy Raquel Robinson is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as high school principal Regina "Piggy" Grier on The WB comedy sitcom ''The Steve Harvey Show'' (1996–2002), and as sports agent Tasha Mack on The CW/ BET/Paramo ...

(born 1967), American actress *

Wendie Jo Sperber Wendie Jo Sperber (September 15, 1958 – November 29, 2005) was an American actress, known for her performances in the films ''I Wanna Hold Your Hand'' (1978), ''Bachelor Party'' (1984), and ''Back to the Future'' (1985), as well as the telev ...

(1958–2005), American actress * Wendy Schaal (born 1954), American actress *

Wendy Stites Wendy Stites (born 1949), also known as Wendy Weir, is an Australian retired production and costume designer. She is best known for her work on the film '' Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'' (2003), for which she was nominated fo ...

(born 1949), Australian production and costume designer * Wendy Tilby (born 1960), Canadian animator and director *

Wendy Toye Beryl May Jessie Toye, (1 May 1917 – 27 February 2010), known professionally as Wendy Toye, was a British dancer, stage and film director and actress. Life and career Toye was born in London. She initially worked as a dancer and choreographer ...

(1917–2010), English director and actress *

Wendy Williams Wendy Williams Hunter ( Wendy Joan Williams; born July 18, 1964) is an American broadcaster and writer. From 2008 to 2021, she hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show ''The Wendy Williams Show.'' Prior to television, Williams w ...

(1934–2019), English actress *

(born 1964), American television and radio presenter, businesswoman, author, actress and media personality * Wendy O. Williams (1949-1998), American singer and former member of

Plasmatics The Plasmatics were an American punk rock, hardcore punk and heavy metal band formed by Rod Swenson and Wendy O. Williams in New York City in 1977. They were a controversial group known for chaotic, destructive live shows and outrageous theat ...

Sports

* Wendy Brown (heptathlete), American heptathlete * Wendy Cruz, Dominican Republic cyclist *

Wendy Fuller Wendy Marie Fuller (born January 8, 1965 in Montreal, Quebec) is a retired diver from Canada, who represented her native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics, finishing in 13th place in the Women's 10m Platform. In the same event she won a silver ...

, Canadian diver *

Wendy Holdener Wendy Holdener (born 12 May 1993) is a Swiss World Cup alpine ski racer who specialises in slalom and combined. She is a two-time World champion in combined and a five-time Olympic medalist, four individual with one gold medal in the team eve ...

, Swiss alpine skier * Wendy Lucero, American diver *

Wendie Renard Wendie Thérèse Renard (born 20 July 1990) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and captains both Division 1 Féminine club Lyon and the France national team. Renard is one of the most decorated players in modern wome ...

, French football player *

Wendy Richter Victoria "Wendi" Richter (born September 8, 1961) is an American retired professional wrestling, professional wrestler. She began her professional wrestling career in companies such as the National Wrestling Alliance, where she tag team, teamed ...

, American wrestler * Wendy Vereen (born 1966), American former sprinter * Wendy Weinberg, American Olympic medalist swimmer *

Wendy Wyland Janna Wendy Wyland (November 25, 1964 – September 27, 2003) was a female diver from the United States. More commonly known as Wendy Wyland, she represented her native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California ...

(1964-2003), American diver

Arts

* Wendy Bagwell (1925–1996), founding member and leader of the Southern gospel music and comedy trio Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters *

Wendy Carlos Wendy Carlos (born Walter Carlos, November 14, 1939) is an American musician and composer best known for her electronic music and film scores. Born and raised in Rhode Island, Carlos studied physics and music at Brown University before moving ...

, American composer *

Wendy Chung Wendy K. Chung is an American clinical and molecular geneticist and physician. She currently directs the clinical genetics program at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center in New York City and serves as the Kenne ...

, Hong Kong pop and C-Pop lyricist *

Wendy Cope Wendy Cope (born 21 July 1945) is a contemporary English poet. She read history at St Hilda's College, Oxford. She now lives in Ely, Cambridgeshire, with her husband, the poet Lachlan Mackinnon. Biography Cope was born in Erith in Kent (no ...

, English poet *

Wendy Davies Wendy Elizabeth Davies (born 1942) is an emeritus professor of history at University College London, England. Her research focuses on rural societies in early medieval Europe, focusing on the regions of Wales, Brittany and Iberia. Career Da ...

, British professor of history *

Wendy J. Fox Wendy J. Fox (born 1979) is an American author born in Washington. She is most known as a writer of fiction and has twice been a finalist for the Colorado Book Awards. In 2015, she was nominated for her collection "The Seven Stages of Anger and ...

, American author *

Wendy Holden (author, born 1961) Wendy Holden (born 1961), also known as Taylor Holden, is an author, journalist and former war correspondent who has written more than thirty books. She was born in Pinner, North London and now lives in Suffolk, England. Her bestselling title is ...

, British journalist and author *

Wendy Holden (author, born 1965) Wendy Holden (born 12 June 1965) is a best-selling British novelist. Holden was born and raised in Cleckheaton, West Riding of Yorkshire. She attended Whitcliffe Mount School, and read English at Girton College, Cambridge, graduating from Cam ...

, British chick-lit novelist *

Wendy James Wendy James (born 21 January 1966) is an English singer-songwriter most notable for her work with the pop band Transvision Vamp. Transvision Vamp Born in London to Norwegian parents, James was adopted soon after birth. She left home at the ag ...

, Transvision Vamp's singer * Wendy Mass (born 1967), American author especially of young adult and children's novels *

Wendy Melvoin Wendy Ann Melvoin (born January 26, 1964) is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Prince as part of his backing band The Revolution, and for her collaboration with Lisa Coleman as one half of the duo Wendy ...

, musician and composer and

twin Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of TwinLast Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two em ...

sister of

Susannah Melvoin Susannah Melvoin (born January 26, 1964) is an American vocalist and songwriter. Melvoin is best known for her association with Prince in the mid-1980s. Melvoin comes from a musical family and is the twin sister of musician Wendy Melvoin, sister ...

Wendy Partridge Wendy Partridge is a British-born Canada-based costume designer in film and television. Partridge was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special for her work on the 2006 two-part AMC series ''B ...

, costume designer * Wendy Pepper, fashion designer *

Wendy Pini Wendy Pini ''née'' Fletcher, (born June 4, 1951) and Richard Pini (born July 19, 1950) are the husband-and-wife team responsible for creating the well-known '' Elfquest'' series of comics, graphic novels and prose works. They are also known a ...

, creator, artist and writer of the fantasy comic book universe '' Elfquest'' * Wendy Shon, Korean singer and member of Red Velvet * Wendy Sulca, Peruvian singer *

Wendy Wasserstein Wendy Wasserstein (October 18, 1950 – January 30, 2006) was an American playwright. She was an Andrew Dickson White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University. She received the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1989 ...

, American playwright * Wendy Whelan, American ballet dancer and associate artistic director of New York City Ballet * Wendy O. Williams, stripper turned punk rocker and leader of the Plasmatics * Wendy Wilson, pop singer of Wilson Phillips fame and daughter of The Beach Boys singer, Brian Wilson * Wendy Rose (born 1948), Hopi/Miwok writer.

Science and engineering

* Wendy Chung, geneticist * Wendy Gibson, British professor in protozoology * Wendy Lou (born 1962), Canadian statistician * Wendy L. Martinez, American statistician * Wendy Lee Queen (born 1981), American chemist and material scientist

Other

* Murder of Wendy Albano, Wendy Albano (died 2012), American woman who was murdered in Bangkok * Wendy Fitzwilliam, Miss Universe 1998 from Trinidad and Tobago * Wendy M. Masiello, United States Air Force officer * Wendy Metcalfe, Canadian journalist, editor and news executive * Wendi Michelle Scott (born 1975), American criminal convicted of abusing her daughter in a case of Münchausen syndrome by proxy * Wendy Osefo, Academic and The Real Housewives of Potomac cast member

Fictional characters

* Wendy Corduroy in ''Gravity Falls'' * Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog, Wendy Harris in the ''Super Friends'' cartoon and comic book * Wendy Johnson in ''My Parents are Aliens'' * Wendy O. Koopa, one of the Koopalings in Mario (franchise), ''Mario'' franchise * Wendy Marvell in ''Fairy Tail'' * Wendy Peyser in ''American Horror Story: Asylum'' * Wendy Testaburger in ''South Park'' * Wendy Rhoades, wife of Chuck Rhoades and a psychiatrist/performance coach at Axe Capital in ''Showtime (TV network), Showtime'' series ''Billions'' * Wendy Torrance, Winnifred "Wendy" Torrance, one of the main characters in Stephen King's ''The Shining (novel), The Shining'' * Wendy Wu, the titular character of ''Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior'' * Wendy the Good Little Witch in Harvey Comics * List of Bob the Builder characters, Wendy, a character in ''Bob the Builder'' * List of Peppa Pig characters, Wendy Wolf, a character in ''Peppa Pig'' series * Wendy, a playable character in the indie survival game ''Don't Starve'' and its sequel ''Don't Starve Together'' * List of How I Met Your Mother characters#Wendy, Wendy in ''How I Met Your Mother'' * Wendy in French animated series ''Les Sisters'' *

in ''

References

{{given name English feminine given names English given names invented by fiction writers