Wendell
Every Wendell since 1880 — 54,330 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Wendell
Wendell is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,165 in 2025 with 67 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 54,330 American babies have been named Wendell. Its peak came in 1940, when 1,650 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Wendell stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Wendell year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 67 | #2,165 |
| 2024 | — | — | 74 | #2,056 |
| 2023 | — | — | 101 | #1,692 |
| 2022 | — | — | 96 | #1,749 |
| 2021 | — | — | 84 | #1,852 |
| 2020 | — | — | 67 | #2,112 |
| 2019 | 5 | #17,847 | 78 | #1,914 |
| 2018 | — | — | 76 | #1,958 |
| 2017 | — | — | 76 | #1,916 |
| 2016 | — | — | 90 | #1,738 |
| 2015 | — | — | 76 | #1,929 |
| 2014 | — | — | 79 | #1,872 |
| 2013 | — | — | 71 | #1,963 |
| 2012 | — | — | 72 | #1,981 |
| 2011 | — | — | 52 | #2,436 |
| 2010 | — | — | 61 | #2,186 |
| 2009 | — | — | 73 | #1,958 |
| 2008 | — | — | 88 | #1,735 |
| 2007 | — | — | 79 | #1,847 |
| 2006 | — | — | 96 | #1,550 |
| 2005 | — | — | 84 | #1,634 |
| 2004 | — | — | 93 | #1,476 |
| 2003 | — | — | 90 | #1,465 |
| 2002 | — | — | 108 | #1,266 |
| 2001 | — | — | 94 | #1,366 |
| 2000 | — | — | 99 | #1,313 |
| 1995 | — | — | 160 | #859 |
| 1990 | — | — | 222 | #680 |
| 1985 | — | — | 248 | #562 |
| 1980 | 5 | #12,116 | 317 | #474 |
| 1975 | 6 | #9,043 | 323 | #442 |
| 1970 | — | — | 537 | #350 |
| 1965 | 10 | #4,486 | 862 | #254 |
| 1960 | 11 | #4,173 | 1,147 | #238 |
| 1955 | 12 | #3,569 | 966 | #229 |
| 1950 | 12 | #3,230 | 842 | #218 |
| 1945 | 10 | #3,127 | 587 | #229 |
| 1940 | 25 | #1,589 | 1,625 | #114 |
| 1935 | 6 | #4,189 | 655 | #194 |
| 1930 | 7 | #4,029 | 672 | #202 |
| 1925 | 7 | #4,417 | 682 | #205 |
| 1920 | 11 | #3,087 | 544 | #232 |
| 1915 | — | — | 490 | #213 |
| 1910 | — | — | 69 | #301 |
| 1905 | — | — | 31 | #383 |
| 1900 | — | — | 30 | #418 |
| 1895 | — | — | 23 | #413 |
| 1890 | — | — | 11 | #628 |
| 1885 | — | — | 9 | #695 |
| 1880 | — | — | 6 | #904 |
Famous people named Wendell
- Wendell Meredith Stanley Chemist · 1904–1971
- Wendell Corey Actor · 1914–1968
- Wendell Willkie Lawyer · 1892–1944
- Wendell Pierce Actor · b. 1963
- Wendell Brown Inventor · b. 1961
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Wendell in 2025?
Wendell ranked #2,165 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 67 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Wendell?
54,330 babies have been named Wendell in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Wendell most popular?
Wendell peaked in 1940, when 1,650 newborns received the name.
Is Wendell a boy or girl name?
Wendell is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Wendell rising or falling?
Wendell is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Wendell?
Well-known people named Wendell include Wendell Meredith Stanley (chemist), Wendell Corey (actor), Wendell Willkie (lawyer).