Waldemar

The first name Waldemar has its roots in German and is one of the older masculine first names. In the Middle Ages, it was often borne by nobles and kings, especially by rulers in Denmark. The meaning of the name can be paraphrased as 'the glorious ruler' or 'the honored ruler'.

What does the name Waldemar mean?

Waldemar is a traditional German name that was used by many nobles and kings in the Middle Ages, particularly in Denmark. It is interpreted as 'the glorious ruler' or 'the esteemed ruler'. The name is composed of the Old High German elements waltan, meaning 'to rule', 'to manage', or 'to govern', and mari, meaning 'famous', 'esteemed', or 'great'. Waldemar is primarily used in Germany and Scandinavia. The variant Valdemar is especially common in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Other forms include Woldemar, Valdemaras, Valdemaro, Valdas, Valdis, and Valto. Since the 19th century, Waldemar has been chosen more frequently, especially by people from Slavic or Russian regions who prefer this name to Wladimir. Some name researchers see a connection to the Slavic Wladimir, but this etymological link is disputed. Slavic variants include Wladimiro, Vladimir, Vladimiras, Vladimiros, Wlodzimierz (Polish), Voldemar, Voldemaras, Voldemars, Volodimeri, Volodya (Russian), Volodymyr, Wolodja, and Wolodymyr (Ukrainian). Short forms include Vlatko (Serbian), Vladan, Vlado, Vladas, Lado (Georgian), and Wlodek (Polish). Notable bearers of this name include the German writer Waldemar Bonsels and the sports reporter Waldemar Hartmann.

Where does the name Waldemar come from?

The etymology of Waldemar traces back to Old High German and means something like 'the glorious ruler' or 'the famous ruling man'. The name is composed of waltan, meaning 'to rule' or 'to govern', and mari, meaning 'famous' or 'great'. It is widespread in several languages, including Danish, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish.

How do you pronounce Waldemar?

The pronunciation of Waldemar is three syllables and powerfully structured. In German, it is usually pronounced as 'Wal-de-mar' [ˈvaldemaʁ]. The name begins with a strong 'Wal', which radiates stability. The consonant cluster '-ld-' provides a firm and clear middle. The ending '-mar' with its open vowel gives the name fullness and depth. Overall, Waldemar appears traditional, self-assured, and present, strong in its structure and clear in expression.

When is the name day of Waldemar?

The name day for Waldemar is celebrated on July 15.

Popularity

In Germany, Waldemar is a relatively common first name and currently ranks 4,024th on the list of the most popular male baby names. Its best placement was in 1937 at rank 158. In the last ten years, Waldemar has been given as a first name about 80 times, placing it 2,756th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,264th.

Nicknames & pet names

Emar / Waddi / Waldarsch / Walde / Waldek / Waldemari / Waldemaro der Grosse / Waldfichte / Waldi / Waldikalti / Waldmann / Waldmeister / Waldo / Waldolas / Waldreichen / Waldschrat / Waldus / Walkman / Walla / Walle / Walli / Walodja / Walzeman / Wanze / Watzmann / Wawan / Wladimir / Wolde / Woldemar / Wowa / Wowka

Famous people

• Axel Waldemar Persson (Swedish archaeologist)
• Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt (former Chancellor of Germany)
• Rudolf Waldemar Brem (actor from Germany)
• Waldemar Anton (football player)
• Waldemar Christofer Brogger (Norwegian geologist)
• Waldemar Correa (cyclist from Uruguay)
• Waldemar Cotelo (athlete from Uruguay)
• Waldemar Fenn (sculptor from Germany)
• Waldemar Freiherr von Knoeringen (notable Bavarian SPD politician)
• Waldemar Glinka (long-distance runner from Poland)
• Waldemar Gust (footballer from Germany)
• Waldemar Hartmann (German journalist, moderator, and sports reporter)
• Waldemar Jendrzey (German footballer)
• Waldemar Kobus (actor from Germany)
• Waldemar Kurpanik (German footballer)
• Waldemar Lemos (Brazilian football manager)
• Waldemar Pagojus (German football player)
• Waldemar Pedrazzi (cyclist from Uruguay)
• Waldemar Prusik (Polish footballer)
• Waldemar Pytel (theologian)