Waldo: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#11,906

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Waldo

How common

1 in 284,679

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1915

174 babies

All-time total

5,722

#1,640 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Waldo popularity over time

5,722 babies have been named Waldo since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	134	134	13	–	#347
1890s	–	196	196	20	+46%	#383
1900s	–	228	228	23	+16%	#396
1910s	–	1,178	1,178	118	+417%	#400
1920s	6	1,355	1,361	136	+16%	#488
1930s	–	820	820	82	-40%	#563
1940s	–	471	471	47	-43%	#833
1950s	–	358	358	36	-24%	#1,150
1960s	–	278	278	28	-22%	#1,194
1970s	–	154	154	15	-45%	#2,200
1980s	–	188	188	19	+22%	#2,204
1990s	–	155	155	16	-18%	#3,304
2000s	–	113	113	11	-27%	#5,541
2010s	–	66	66	7	-42%	#7,508
2020s (to 2025)	–	22	22	4	-44%	#8,126

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.

How old are people named Waldo?

The median living Waldo is about 61 years old; half are between 37 and 75. An estimated 1,500 people named Waldo are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Waldo Ponce Chilean football defender (born 1982) Contemporary
2 Waldo Machado Brazilian footballer (1934–2019) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Waldo, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Waldo?

The median living Waldo is about 61 years old. Half of all living Waldos are between 37 and 75 years old.

How many people named Waldo are alive today?

An estimated 1,500 people named Waldo are alive in the United States, based on 5,722 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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 Ponce (soccer player), Waldo Machado (soccer player).

Names like Waldo

Names that sound and feel close to Waldo: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Waldo with similar names → More names starting with W →