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Home › Baby Names Directory › Waldo

Waldo

♂ Boy

Pronounced WAL-doh /ˈwɑːl.doʊ/Medium

Meaning: From the Germanic wald, 'to rule; power' — a short form of names like Waldemar and Oswald. Famous through Ralph Waldo Emerson and the puzzle books Where's Waldo.Low

In 30 seconds: A vintage-strong name: Waldo means 'to rule' (said 'WAL-doh'). Familiar and rare.
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Origin MediumGermanic
MeaningFrom the Germanic wald, 'to rule; power' — a short form of names like Waldemar and Oswald. Famous through Ralph Waldo Emerson and the puzzle books Where's Waldo.
U.S. rank (2021)#8121 ↗ Rising
2021 U.S. births10 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1915
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,711

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191518802021

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

Waldo comes from the Germanic wald, 'to rule; power,' as a short form of names like Waldemar and Oswald. It is familiar through Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Where's Waldo books — a warm vintage pick, rare in the U.S. (said 'WAL-doh').

It appears only rarely in the U.S. Rare, vintage, and warm.

Did you know? Waldo comes from the Germanic wald, 'to rule; power' — a short form of Waldemar and Oswald, known through Ralph Waldo Emerson and Where's Waldo (said 'WAL-doh').
Overall data confidence 46%
References — Waldo — Germanic wald 'to rule'; Emerson; Where's Waldo

Variations

WaldonWaldemarWalden

Nicknames

WalDoe

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Waldo…

Waldemar— a like wald-rooted name
Aldo— a like Germanic -o name
Otto— a like vintage Germanic name
Hugo— a like short Germanic name

Explore names like Waldo

By themevintagegermanicwarm

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Waldo mean?

Waldo is from the Germanic wald, 'to rule; power,' a short form of names like Waldemar and Oswald.

How do you pronounce Waldo?

It's said WAL-doh /ˈwɑːl.doʊ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Waldo a boy or girl name?

Waldo is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Waldo?

Waldo is a rare name in the U.S.

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