Wendel

Wendel is a masculine first name that is used in Germany and the Netherlands as a short form for various names beginning with 'Wendel-'. These names also include the now rare variants Wendelbert or Wendelmar.

What does the name Wendel mean?

The name Wendel is a short form that originates from German and Dutch and includes names that begin with 'Wendel-'. It is semantically translated as 'the Vandal'. The origins of the name lie in Old High German, derived from the word wendel, which means 'the Vandal'. The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that invaded Spain and North Africa in the 5th century. Their name could be translated as 'the wanderers' and was later also applied to other groups such as the Wends, a Slavic people who lived between the Elbe and Oder rivers. The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages through Saint Wendelin, who lived in the 6th and 7th centuries and is venerated as the patron saint of shepherds and livestock. Other variants include Wendell, Wendelin, Wendelinus, Wendlin, Wend, Wendt, Wendolin, Vendel, and Vendelin.

Where does the name Wendel come from?

The first name Wendel has Old High German roots and means 'the Vandal'. The Old High German word wendel stands for 'the Vandal'. The languages in which the name occurs are German and Dutch.

How do you pronounce Wendel?

The pronunciation of Wendel is soft and two-syllable. The name is pronounced as 'Wen-del' [ˈvɛndəl], with the first syllable clear and the gentle ending of the second syllable standing out. The soft ending on '-el' softens the compact structure of the name. Wendel radiates friendliness and tradition and impresses with a clear syllable structure and calm sound.

When is the name day of Wendel?

The name day for Wendel is celebrated on October 20.

Popularity

In Germany, Wendel is a rather rare first name. In the German name rankings, it has not achieved any notable placement so far. In Austria, it reached its best placement in 2012 at 1,520th place. Between 1984 and 2024, Wendel was given as a first name in Austria fewer than 10 times, earning it 6,220th place. In the last ten years, no child in Austria has been given this name.

Nicknames & pet names

Knirpsi

Famous people

• David Wendel Guion (American musician)
• Wendel Alex Dos Santos (Brazilian football player)
• Wendel Anne Meldrum (Italian actor)
• Wendel Clark (Canadian ice hockey player)
• Wendel Dietterlin (German painter)
• Wendel Fraser (Surinamese football player)
• Wendel Geraldo Mauricio e Silva (football player from Brazil)
• Wendel H. Furry (American physicist)
• Wendel Raul Goncalves Gomes (Brazilian football player)
• Wendel Roskopf (architect from Germany)
• Wendel Santana Pereira Santos (Brazilian footballer)
• Wendel Schäfer (writer from Germany)
• Wendel Suckow (American luger)