It is also a masculine given name in the United States, often given to commemorate poet Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809–1894) or his son Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935), a famous justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Wendell was the maiden name of Sarah Holmes, mother of Oliver Wendell Holmes.
[1] Since about 1970 Wendell is a common given name in Brazil,[2] where it has been borne by famous footballers.
In the United States the popularity of the name peaked around 1940, then declined steadily after 1960.
[3] Notable people with the name Wendell include: