Waldo is an American given name of German origin, derived from the Germanic elements 'weald' meaning 'forest', and 'wald' meaning 'rule'. It is also a variant of the Old English name Waldhere, which was composed of the elements 'weald' and 'here', meaning 'army'. The name Waldo first gained prominence in the United States during the 19th century. Its popularity may be attributed to the character Waldo in Mark Twain's 1872 novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", although it is important to note that the author likely chose the name for its regional association with Missouri, where the story takes place, rather than as a reference to German settlers. Today, Waldo remains a unique and distinctive choice among American male given names.
The name Waldo saw exactly six newborns enter the world in the year 1921.