Wendy

Wendy is closely associated with Wendy Darling in J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. Barrie’s character helped make the name widely familiar, but examples of the name existed before the play, so it is too simple to say he invented every use. Some earlier forms may relate to Gwendolen.

The often-told story involving a child’s pronunciation of friend helps explain the literary naming tradition, not a certain universal dictionary meaning. Wendy can be chosen directly for the character or for a family namesake. Gwendolen offers a possible longer-name comparison, but a standalone Wendy does not need that full form to justify its established identity.