Waldo
Waldo is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Rule, power, or ruler.
Origin and history
Waldo is a name of Germanic origin derived from the element 'wald', meaning rule or power. It was traditionally used as a short form of longer Germanic names like Waldemar or Oswald. In the United States, it enjoyed moderate usage in the early 20th century but is now uncommon, partly due to its strong association with the 'Where's Waldo?' picture book series.
Popularity in the United States
5,716 babies in the United States have been named Waldo since 1880. It ranks #1602 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1905.
States where it is most popular
- OH (12.1 %)
- TX (9 %)
- CA (8.7 %)
- MN (7.7 %)
- MO (6.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 134 |
| 1890-1900 | 196 |
| 1900-1910 | 228 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,178 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,355 |
| 1930-1940 | 820 |
| 1940-1950 | 471 |
| 1950-1960 | 358 |
| 1960-1970 | 278 |
| 1970-1980 | 154 |
| 1980-1990 | 188 |
| 1990-2000 | 155 |
| 2000-2010 | 113 |
| 2010-2019 | 66 |
| 2020-2029 | 22 |
Famous people named Waldo
- Waldo Frank: Author, Historian
Fun facts
- American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson helped bring prominence to the name in the 19th century.
- The name gained widespread global fame through the search-and-find book series 'Where's Waldo?', created by Martin Handford.