Wendell
Boy name · #2147 in 2025 · Uniqueness 72/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wendell against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wendell in class?
Wendell scores 72 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Wendell is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Wendells were CA (7), MO (5), SC (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 72/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.