Waldo Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Waldo is of Old German origin, meaning 'to rule' and 'army'. It evolved from the name Waldhari and has seen various forms throughout history. It gained notable popularity during the Middle Ages and is currently associated with a whimsical character from literature. The name carries traits of leadership and adventure, with no significant biblical relevance.
The name Waldo is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Waldo has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Waldo' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 487th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 724th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1277th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2282nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3186th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6520th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 10747th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8598th out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Waldo' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Waldo"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɔːl.doʊ/
Origin
Old German
Etymology
The name Waldo is derived from the Old High German name 'Waldhari', which combines the elements 'wald' meaning 'rule' and 'hari' meaning 'army'.
Meaning
to rule, army
Language Evolution
Waldhari, Waldo, Walden
Historical Usage
The name Waldo gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly during the 12th century, influenced by figures such as Peter Waldo, the founder of the Waldensians.
Variants & Derivatives
Waldon, Wal, Wald
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Waldo is often associated with the character from the 'Where's Waldo?' series, evoking a playful and adventurous image.
Famous People
Waldo Emerson, Waldo Frank
Explore More Waldo Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Waldo"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Waldo"
"Waldo" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 487th of 7545 | 2,513 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 724th of 6773 | 1,355 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1277th of 7552 | 689 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2282nd of 10718 | 279 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3186th of 16616 | 283 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6520th of 24088 | 176 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 10747th of 23106 | 64 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8598th of 9107 | 6 |
Regional Popularity of "Waldo" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
24.36% 345th/1416 |
41.48% 572nd/1379 |
30.52% 722nd/2366 |
48.07% 549th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
36.61% 566th/1546 |
57.13% 889th/1556 |
42.20% 993rd/2353 |
46.22% 715th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
49.71% 1208th/2430 |
53.84% 1536th/2853 |
57.80% 1604th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
55.90% 1947th/3483 |
55.91% 1967th/3518 |
53.07% 2146th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
43.99% 2285th/5194 |
32.80% 2072nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
63.81% 4762nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Waldo" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Waldo"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Waldo" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.