Waldo
English surname, from the obsolete English given name Waltheof, from Lua error in Module:etymology/templates at line 71: Language 'en (English)' does not match the L2…
Every Waldo since 1880 — 5,722 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Waldo
Waldo is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #11,906 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 5,722 American babies have been named Waldo. Its peak came in 1915, when 174 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Waldo stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Waldo year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 6 | #11,906 |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — | 10 | #8,126 |
| 2020 | — | — | 6 | #11,935 |
| 2019 | — | — | 10 | #8,173 |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | 11 | #7,508 |
| 2016 | — | — | 9 | #8,768 |
| 2015 | — | — | 8 | #9,510 |
| 2014 | — | — | 5 | #13,966 |
| 2013 | — | — | 5 | #13,960 |
| 2012 | — | — | 8 | #9,664 |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | 10 | #8,100 |
| 2009 | — | — | 12 | #7,210 |
| 2008 | — | — | 12 | #7,161 |
| 2007 | — | — | 10 | #8,138 |
| 2006 | — | — | 10 | #7,966 |
| 2005 | — | — | 8 | #9,062 |
| 2004 | — | — | 13 | #6,119 |
| 2003 | — | — | 14 | #5,541 |
| 2002 | — | — | 10 | #7,015 |
| 2001 | — | — | 12 | #5,993 |
| 2000 | — | — | 12 | #5,898 |
| 1995 | — | — | 15 | #4,266 |
| 1990 | — | — | 19 | #3,304 |
| 1985 | — | — | 18 | #2,824 |
| 1980 | — | — | 15 | #3,091 |
| 1975 | — | — | 10 | #3,652 |
| 1970 | — | — | 10 | #3,274 |
| 1965 | — | — | 26 | #1,555 |
| 1960 | — | — | 31 | #1,460 |
| 1955 | — | — | 38 | #1,238 |
| 1950 | — | — | 38 | #1,179 |
| 1945 | — | — | 38 | #1,055 |
| 1940 | — | — | 57 | #839 |
| 1935 | — | — | 70 | #738 |
| 1930 | — | — | 114 | #563 |
| 1925 | — | — | 121 | #565 |
| 1920 | — | — | 148 | #497 |
| 1915 | — | — | 174 | #407 |
| 1910 | — | — | 36 | #460 |
| 1905 | — | — | 24 | #462 |
| 1900 | — | — | 22 | #517 |
| 1895 | — | — | 20 | #455 |
| 1890 | — | — | 22 | #386 |
| 1885 | — | — | 17 | #460 |
| 1880 | — | — | 10 | #636 |
Famous people named Waldo
- Waldo Machado Soccer player · 1934–2019
- Waldo Ponce Soccer player · b. 1982
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Waldo mean?
English surname, from the obsolete English given name Waltheof, from Lua error in Module:etymology/templates at line 71: Language 'en (English)' does not match the L2 header (Translingual).
How popular is the name Waldo in 2025?
Waldo ranked #11,906 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Waldo?
5,722 babies have been named Waldo in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Waldo most popular?
Waldo peaked in 1915, when 174 newborns received the name.
Is Waldo a boy or girl name?
Waldo is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Waldo rising or falling?
Waldo is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Waldo?
Well-known people named Waldo include Waldo Machado (soccer player), Waldo Ponce (soccer player).