Wendell
Boy name · #2147 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Wendell? In official American birth records, Wendell has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Wendell ranks #2147 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 67 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1910, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 26,866 boys born in 2025 was named Wendell.
The 145-year story
Wendell first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1940, when 1,625 boys were named Wendell — good for #114 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Wendell per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wendell against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wendell in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Wendell is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Wendell will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Wendell is most common
State-level data for Wendell is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Wendell
Statistically, parents drawn to Wendell tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lowell, Darrell, Randall, Willie, and Johnnie.
LowellDarrellRandallWillieJohnnieLonnieFreddieGene
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wendell | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 67 | #2145 |
| 2024 | 74 | #2042 |
| 2023 | 101 | #1681 |
| 2022 | 96 | #1737 |
| 2021 | 84 | #1841 |
| 2020 | 67 | #2094 |
| 2019 | 78 | #1899 |
| 2018 | 76 | #1937 |
| 2017 | 76 | #1897 |
| 2016 | 90 | #1724 |
| 2015 | 76 | #1910 |
| 2014 | 79 | #1857 |
| 2013 | 71 | #1942 |
| 2012 | 72 | #1959 |
| 2011 | 52 | #2403 |
| 2010 | 61 | #2169 |
| 2009 | 73 | #1942 |
| 2008 | 88 | #1719 |
| 2007 | 79 | #1830 |
| 2006 | 96 | #1543 |
| 2005 | 84 | #1619 |
| 2004 | 93 | #1467 |
| 2003 | 90 | #1451 |
| 2002 | 108 | #1258 |
| 2001 | 94 | #1357 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Wendell?
In official American birth records, the name Wendell first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Wendell a popular boy name?
Wendell ranked #2147 among boys in 2025 with 67 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1910.
When was the name Wendell most popular?
Wendell peaked in 1940, when 1,625 American boys received the name (ranked #114 that year). Since 1940 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Wendell?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 26,866 newborn American boys was named Wendell. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.