Although there are examples of boys named after Peter Waldo, founder of the Waldensians, Ralph Waldo Emerson is NOT one of them.His middle name (and, by the way, he preferred relatives and friends to call him Waldo in everyday life since he had several first cousins named Ralph) came from the English surname Waldo, which is derived from Wælþeof, the Old English form of a Danish name meaning "battle thief" brought to England by Viking settlers. Walthew and Wadie are other surnames derived from this same given name.The surname Waldo was brought to New England around 1650. Samuel Waldo was a general in the French and Indian War who Waldo County, Maine, was named after. Ralph Waldo Emerson's father was a descendant of the New England Waldo family, and he gave his son Waldo as a middle name to honor his own Waldo ancestors, not to honor Peter Waldo. [noted -ed]A fuller explanation is found in my newspaper column on the name Waldo:https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/youll-find-waldo-if-you-look-hard/article_ccfa3777-129f-5d62-9a25-6fd15fda44e3.html
This was the middle name of American essayist, lecturer and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson (25 May 1803 - 27 April 1882). He led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century.
The original title of the "Where's Waldo" books is "Where's Wally." For some inexplicable reason, the name was changed to "Waldo" for the U.S. and Canadian editions. (Why? The nickname "Wally" is used in the U.S., at least. I would be very surprised if the same was not true in Canada.)
Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist, philosopher, and pivotal member of the transcendentalist movement. Middle name of Ralph Ellison, author of "Invisible Man." Yes, his name was Ralph Waldo Ellison.
Waldo is the main character of the short story "the Gift" by Lou Reed, which was put to music and read by John Cale in a song by the same title. Waldo is worrying that his long distance girlfriend, Marsha, is cheating on him, so he mails himself to her. Things do not end well for Waldo.
On reading this name, the following scene popped into my head:Frantic mother rushes through grocery store. She finally gets to someone who can use the intercom and shouts, "Where's Waldo? Where's Waldo?" The employee can't help her because he just doubled over, laughing hysterically. Suddenly, a small boy crawls over. "Hi, Mama!"I'm not saying that this would ever happen; however, it's something Waldos would have to deal with.
This is a unique and very sexy name! The fact that it's not used very often makes one very attracted towards the person. This is someone you will never forget!