Waldemar
A masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "ruler of peace".
Name Census estimates that about 561 living Americans carry the first name Waldemar. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Waldemar today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Waldemar births was 1915 (50 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Waldemar. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
561
~ 1 in 610,970 Americans
Peak year
1915
50 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,101
Tracked since 1891
Popularity
Waldemar: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Waldemar from the 1890s through to the 2020s, spanning 14 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 350 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waldemar by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Waldemar during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Waldemars live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York recorded the most babies named Waldemar, while California, Michigan, Illinois recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 48 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Waldemar
The name Waldemar has its origins in the Germanic languages, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a compound name, derived from the Old High German words "waltan" meaning "to rule" or "to govern," and "mari" meaning "famous" or "renowned." Together, the name Waldemar signifies "famous ruler" or "renowned leader."
The earliest recorded use of the name Waldemar can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was borne by several medieval rulers and noblemen. One notable figure was Valdemar I of Denmark, who reigned from 1157 to 1182 and is credited with consolidating Danish territories and strengthening the monarchy.
In the 13th century, the name gained prominence with Valdemar II of Denmark, also known as Valdemar the Victorious (1170-1241). He was a powerful and influential king who expanded Danish territories and played a significant role in the Northern Crusades against pagan tribes in present-day Estonia and Latvia.
Another historical figure with the name Waldemar was Valdemar IV of Denmark (1320-1375), who ruled from 1340 to 1375. He is remembered for his efforts to centralize the kingdom's administration and his involvement in the conflict known as the Danish-Holstein War.
Moving beyond the realm of Danish royalty, the name Waldemar was also adopted by other European nobility. One such example is Waldemar, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe (1783-1853), a German nobleman and military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became the ruling Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe.
In the 20th century, Waldemar Bonsels (1880-1952) was a German author and poet, best known for his children's book "The Adventures of Maya the Bee," which has been adapted into various media formats and remains popular to this day.
While the name Waldemar has historical significance and resonance, particularly in Northern Europe, it has become less common in modern times. However, its enduring legacy as a name symbolizing leadership and renown ensures that it remains an intriguing and distinguished choice for parents seeking a name with a rich heritage.
People
Waldemar + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Waldemar as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Waldemar: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Waldemar?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 561 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Waldemar going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 610,970 US residents.
Is Waldemar a common name?
We classify Waldemar as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,505 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Waldemar most popular?
The single biggest year for Waldemar was 1915, when 50 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Waldemar is about 53 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Waldemar a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Waldemar in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.