Walda

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Walda

Pronounced WAHL-duh /ˈwɑːldə/Medium

Meaning: Walda is a feminine form built on the Germanic element 'wald', 'rule' or 'power' (the same root as Waldo, Oswald, and Walter). It reads as a short, sturdy vintage feminine; the meaning is 'ruler' or 'power'.Low

In 30 seconds: Walda is a brisk feminine of the Germanic 'wald' ('rule, power') — the root behind Waldo and Walter. It was a rare American girls' name in the early 1900s (said 'WAHL-duh').

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Origin LowGermanic

MeaningWalda is a feminine form built on the Germanic element 'wald', 'rule' or 'power' (the same root as Waldo, Oswald, and Walter). It reads as a short, sturdy vintage feminine; the meaning is 'ruler' or 'power'.

U.S. rank (1957)#6987 ↘ Falling

1957 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1948

Total births (all-time)≈ 330

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Walda is a feminine name from the Germanic element wald, 'rule' or 'power', the same root found in Waldo, Walter, and Oswald. Short and strong, it belongs to the small set of early-twentieth-century feminines coined by adding -a to a masculine Germanic root, giving a girl a name meaning 'ruler'.

Walda appears as a genuine rarity, its faint high point around mid-century and never more than a scattering — a few dozen girls a year at most. It has a compact, Old-World feel; it has not revived, reading now as an uncommon vintage feminine of the Wald- family.

Did you know? The element 'wald' that anchors Walda runs through a whole family of names — Walter, Oswald, Waldo — all carrying the idea of rule or power.

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Walda — Germanic wald 'rule/power'; feminine of Waldo

Variations

WaldineWaldinaWelda

Nicknames

WallyWallie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Walda…

Wilda— a fellow short -da Germanic-style vintage feminine

Zelda— shares the brisk two-syllable -da sound

Velda— another rare -da vintage name of the era

Hilda— a Germanic -a feminine with a similar sturdy feel

Explore names like Walda

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Walda mean?

Walda is a feminine name from the Germanic element wald, 'rule' or 'power', as in Waldo and Walter.

How do you pronounce Walda?

It's said WAHL-duh /ˈwɑːldə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Walda a boy or girl name?

Walda is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Walda?

Walda has always been very rare in the U.S., a vintage Germanic feminine most seen last century.