Holding steady.
Popularity of Wendal since 1918
Babies named Wendal per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1955, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Wendal's real moment was 1936.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 11 |
| 1920s | 31 |
| 1930s | 41 |
| 1940s | 14 |
| 1950s | 36 |
| 1960s | 51 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Wendal is a rare given name that saw brief usage in the early to mid-20th century in the United States. According to Social Security data, the name was first recorded in 1918. Its peak year was 1936, though even then it did not rank in the top 1000 names. After the 1930s, its usage declined and has remained very low, with no recorded births in recent decades. The trajectory since the 1930s has been stable at near-zero. As a variant of Wendell, it carries Old Germanic roots but has never achieved widespread popularity. Its obscurity makes it a distinctly uncommon choice today.
Wendal is a variant of Wendell, itself derived from the Germanic element 'wand' meaning 'to wander' or 'to turn', often interpreted as 'wanderer'. It may also be a pet form of names beginning with 'Wend-', such as Wende or Wendelin. The name saw modest use in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Wendy, Wen
Sibling names for Wendal
Names that share Wendal's style, for a brother or sister.
