How Many People Are Named Wendelin?
An estimated 283 people in the United States have the first name Wendelin. It is used for both genders, with 66.0% female. The average bearer is 68 years old, and Wendelin peaked in popularity in 1954 with 30 births that year.
Below you will find a full statistical profile of Wendelin as a first name in the United States, including gender data, a year-by-year popularity timeline going back to 1880, a decade breakdown, state-by-state birth registrations, and, when available, a 2020 Census snapshot showing who had the name at that point in time. You can also check how many people share the full name Wendelin paired with any surname.
Key Insights
- Wendelin has undergone a significant gender shift. Originally given predominantly to boys, it is now more commonly a girls' name.
- With an average bearer age of 68, Wendelin is a vintage name most associated with earlier generations. Most living bearers were born before 1968.
Estimated Living Americans
283
About 1 in 1,211,146 people in the U.S.
Rarity
Very Rare
Predicted Gender
Female
66.0% confidence
Average Age
68
years old
Peak Year
1954
30 births
Total Registered
559
since 1880
Gender Distribution for Wendelin
Wendelin is a genuinely unisex name, used for both males (34.0%) and females (66.0%). Out of 559 total births registered, 190 were male and 369 were female.
Wendelin as a male name
Ranked #3,495 in 1941
6 male births in 1941
Peak: 1919 (14 births)
Wendelin as a female name
Ranked #7,283 in 1976
8 female births in 1976
Peak: 1954 (30 births)
Wendelin in the 2020 Census
The 2020 Census recorded 489 people with the first name Wendelin, which placed it at #20,952 in the published first-name tables. This is a snapshot of people who already had the name in 2020. The estimated living count elsewhere on this page is different: it is a current estimate built from SSA birth records and age-based survival rates, so the two figures are not expected to match exactly.
Read this section as a snapshot of people who already had the name in 2020. The SSA charts elsewhere on this page are still the better way to see how the name rose, fell, or shifted across generations.
Gender in the 2020 Census
In the 2020 Census, Wendelin was recorded as predominantly female. Out of 489 people with this name in that snapshot, 17.0% were male and 83.0% were female. That is more heavily female than the long-run SSA birth pattern on this page, which sits at 66.0% female.
Census Count
489
people with this name
Census Rank
#20,952
among Census first names
Frequency Rate
0.16
per 100,000 people
Recorded Race and Hispanic Origin in the 2020 Census
In the 2020 Census, the first name Wendelin was most commonly recorded among people who identified as White (77.16%). The next largest recorded groups were Black (12.14%) and Hispanic (4.94%).
These percentages describe the people who had the first name Wendelin in the 2020 Census. They do not tell you the deeper meaning or origin of the name itself.
2020 Census demographic breakdown
Each row shows a recorded Census category for people with the first name Wendelin.
| Group | Share | Count |
|---|---|---|
| White | 77.16% | 375 |
| Black | 12.14% | 59 |
| Hispanic | 4.94% | 24 |
| Two or More Races | 2.88% | 14 |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 2.06% | 10 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.82% | 4 |
The Census published separate sex and race/origin tables for first names, so their total counts can differ slightly for the same name. That is why the race section focuses on the demographic mix rather than repeating a second headline count.
Wendelin: Popularity Over Time
SSA records for Wendelin span from the 1910s to the 1970s, covering 7 decades of naming data. The most popular decade for this name was the 1950s, when 207 babies were registered. Wendelin has declined significantly from its peak in the 1950s. Recent registrations are a fraction of what they were at the name's height.
Wendelin by Decade
How has Wendelin tracked across different eras? The table below groups all SSA birth registrations into 10-year periods, with separate male and female counts. The colored bar shows each decade's share relative to the peak.
Wendelin by State
Birth registrations for Wendelin span all 3 states and territories in the SSA database. The highest counts are in North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri. The lowest are in Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota. On average, about 9 Wendelins were registered per state.
Wendelin + Last Name Combinations
How many people share a full name with Wendelin as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Names Similar to Wendelin
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
Wendelin: Questions and Answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Wendelin?
We estimate approximately 283 people named Wendelin are alive in the United States today. This is based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024, adjusted for mortality using CDC life tables. About 1 in 1,211,146 Americans share this first name.
Is Wendelin a common name?
Wendelin is classified as "Very Rare" and is more popular than 78.6% of all first names in the SSA database. A total of 559 births have been registered with this name since 1880.
When was Wendelin most popular?
Wendelin reached peak popularity in 1954, when 30 babies were given this name. The average age of a living person named Wendelin is approximately 68 years old, reflecting when the name was most commonly given.
How common was Wendelin in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census recorded 489 people with the first name Wendelin. That placed it at #20,952 in the published Census first-name tables, or 0.16 people per 100,000.
Why is the Census count different from the living estimate?
Because they measure different things. The Census number is a count of people with the name in 2020. The living estimate is a current model based on SSA birth records and survival rates, so it aims to estimate how many people with the name are alive now.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The popularity chart tracks birth registrations, not people currently alive. It shows how often Wendelin was given to babies from 1880 through 2024, which is why it is the best tool on the page for seeing long-run naming trends.
What does the Census say about the gender split for Wendelin?
In the 2020 Census snapshot, Wendelin was recorded as predominantly female. The published split was 17.0% male and 83.0% female.
What does the Census say about the background of people named Wendelin?
In the 2020 Census, the first name Wendelin was most commonly recorded among people who identified as White (77.16%). The next largest recorded groups were Black (12.14%) and Hispanic (4.94%). These percentages describe the people who had the name in the 2020 Census, not the deeper meaning or origin of the name itself.
Why can the Census sex total and race total differ slightly?
The Census published separate first-name tables for sex and for race and Hispanic origin. Those totals can differ slightly for the same name, so the page uses them as two related snapshots rather than treating them as perfectly interchangeable counts.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name tables only include names that met the Bureau's publication rules. That means some names on this site will have SSA history but no published Census demographic snapshot.
Is Wendelin a female name?
Wendelin is predominantly female. 66.0% of people with this name are female. See the gender breakdown above for full details.
Why can Wendelin have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because a name can build up a large population over many decades. Wendelin peaked in 1954, and the average living bearer is about 68 years old, so a name can still have millions of living bearers even after it stops feeling current for newborns.
How many Wendelin Smiths are there?
To find how many people share a specific full name, we combine first name and surname frequencies. Try: Wendelin Smith, Wendelin Johnson, Wendelin Williams. You can also search any combination on our homepage.
Where does this data come from?
Our estimates use Social Security Administration birth records (1880 to 2024), adjusted for survival using CDC 2023 life tables broken down by sex. The U.S. population figure (342,754,338) is from the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimate. Full methodology.
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