Total births
1,510
Boys' name · since 1891
Waldemar
Since 1891, U.S. Social Security records show 1,510 babies named Waldemar, peaking in 1915. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #12390
- among boys today
- 1,510
- born since 1891
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
1,510 babies have been named Waldemar since 1891, making it today's #12390 boys' name.
Waldemar has 1,510 recorded births among boys since 1891, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #12390 as of the latest data, more common than 13% of boys, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1891 to 2025.
- #12390 among boys today
- 1,510 born since 1891
- 1920s peak decade
- 13% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Waldemar is currently the #12390 boys' name in America, more common than 13% of boys - 1,510 born since 1891, peaking in the 1920s.
- #12390
- among boys today
- 1,510
- born since 1891
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
Waldemar vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#12390
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 13% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
23% of everyone ever named Waldemar was born in this single decade.
1915
Single peak year
50 babies were named Waldemar in 1915 - its busiest year on record.
How Waldemar compares
1,510 Top 25% higher than 75% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Waldemar's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Waldemar | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,510 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 50 | 23 | 22,252 |
Waldemar's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Waldemar's full recorded timeline at 1954, 32% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 68% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1893, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1915 peak of 50 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Waldemar at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1915
Current rank
#12,390
Active since
1891
Waldemar popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1891–2025
- Peak year (1915)
- 50
- Annual births at peak, across 135 years of records
Waldemar by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Waldemar's strongest decade.
350 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Waldemar births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 23
1890s
23 births
- 1900s 51
1900s
51 births
- 1910s
1910s
308 births
- 1920s
1920s
350 births
- 1930s
1930s
175 births
- 1940s 73
1940s
73 births
- 1950s 82
1950s
82 births
- 1960s 108
1960s
108 births
- 1970s 94
1970s
94 births
- 1980s 93
1980s
93 births
- 1990s 70
1990s
70 births
- 2000s 47
2000s
47 births
- 2010s 21
2010s
21 births
- 2020s 15
2020s
15 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 350 births (23% of all-time use).
How Waldemar compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Waldemar's total volume
Waldemar vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Waldemar by state
Where Waldemar concentrates geographically, total births since 1891
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wisconsin | | 119 | 7.9% |
| #2 | Minnesota | | 79 | 5.2% |
| #3 | New York | | 45 | 3.0% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 31 | 2.1% |
| #5 | Michigan | | 11 | 0.7% |
| #6 | California | | 5 | 0.3% |
Wisconsin share of Waldemar's total US births 7.9%
Even split
119 of 1,510 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Waldemar? ▼
Waldemar has been given to 1,510 babies in the U.S. since 1891, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #12390 as of the latest data. 50 babies were born in 1915, its single highest year.
When was Waldemar most popular? ▼
Waldemar was most popular in the 1920s decade with 350 total births. The single peak year was 1915.
Where is Waldemar most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Waldemar are Wisconsin (119 births), Minnesota (79 births), New York (45 births).
How long has the name Waldemar been used? ▼
Records for Waldemar go back to 1891, giving 135 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Waldemar? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Walter, Wallace, Walker, Walton, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Waldemar's data
- Waldemar's decade-level peak was the 1920s (350 total births); usage has since declined to 15 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Wisconsin records the most Waldemars (119 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Wisconsin names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Waldemar
Nearby Names Like Waldemar
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Waldemar
Walter Boy
#271 631,172 births
Wallace Boy
#983 83,263 births
Walker Boy
#82 47,914 births
Walton Boy
#3275 5,889 births
Waldo Boy
5,716 births
Compare Waldemar side by side: Waldemar vs Walter Waldemar vs Wallace Waldemar vs Walker
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Waldemar
Orvin #12389
1,140 births · Peak 1917
Ollis #12391
414 births · Peak 1927
Romie #12388
1,744 births · Peak 1920
Hammond #12392
479 births · Peak 1921
Claiborne #12387
1,210 births · Peak 1918
Isador #12393
182 births · Peak 1915
Ran #12386
94 births · Peak 1979
Vinton #12394
1,068 births · Peak 1916
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1891–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Waldemar: #12390 Boys' Name - 1,510 Births, Peak 1915." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/waldemar. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Waldemar draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.