Wendalyn first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Wendalyn has been for the last 4 years (from 1974 to 1977) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Wendalyn

A feminine name of Germanic origin meaning "wanderer" or "to travel".

Popularity of Wendalyn by gender

Based on the last 4 years of data, Wendalyn is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1977, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Wendalyn.

Year Male Count Female Count
1977 0 5
1974 0 7

The history of the first name Wendalyn

The name Wendalyn is a modern English variant of the German name Wendelin or Wendelina. Its origins can be traced back to the 7th century, derived from the Germanic elements "wand" meaning "wanderer" and "lind" meaning "soft" or "tender." The name was initially popular in Germany and nearby regions.

In the Middle Ages, the name Wendalyn was associated with St. Wendelin, a 7th-century Irish monk who preached in Germany and is the patron saint of shepherds and herdsmen. His feast day, celebrated on October 20th, contributed to the name's popularity in Germanic regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wendalyn dates back to the 12th century, with a Benedictine abbess named Wendelina von Reichenau (1126-1201) who presided over the Reichenau Abbey in present-day Germany.

In the 14th century, a German nun named Wendelina von Spitzenberg (1310-1382) gained recognition for her writings on mysticism and spiritual teachings. She is considered an influential figure in the history of Christian mysticism.

Moving forward to the 16th century, Wendalyn Cobergher (1561-1643) was a notable Flemish artist and painter known for her still-life compositions and depictions of domestic scenes.

In the 19th century, Wendalyn Baker (1835-1903) was an American writer and educator who contributed to the development of the kindergarten movement in the United States.

Another notable figure bearing the name Wendalyn was Wendalyn Jones (1899-1985), a Welsh actress and singer who performed in various stage productions and films during the early 20th century.

While the name Wendalyn has its roots in Germanic languages, it has gained popularity in English-speaking countries in more recent times, particularly as a variant of the traditional name Wendelin or Wendelina.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Wendalyn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Wendalyn, please contact us.

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"Wendalyn first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 14, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/wendalyn-meaning-and-history/.

"Wendalyn first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/wendalyn-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 14 May, 2025

Wendalyn first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/wendalyn-meaning-and-history/.

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