Wanda is a feminine given name of Polish origin and meaning. The name is derived from the masculine given name Wandusz, which is in turn derived from the Slavic element "wand" meaning "charming". Wanda has been used as a given name for females since at least the Middle Ages in Poland. One notable historical figure with the name Wanda was Queen Wanda of Poland (also known as Wanda of Bytom), who ruled in the 10th century and is considered a national heroine in Poland. Today, Wanda remains a popular choice for girls' names in Poland and has also gained some international recognition in recent years.
The name Wanda experienced fluctuations in popularity over the decades with peaks occurring during certain periods. The highest number of births was recorded in 1934 with 27 births, while the lowest occurred in 1947 and 1986 with only 5 births each. Overall, there were a total of 972 babies named Wanda from 1917 to 1987.