Is Waldo really that more of a common name than Wally in the states?
For me, yes, to the extent I had no idea he was originally called Wally until I opened this article today
I mean more in general, not just regarding the character.
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of a real person called Waldo, yet I’ve heard of a few Wallys. Waldo kinda sounds a bit like a dog name to me
I know one Waldo and I’ve seen one Waldo in one modern book series (not counting where’s Waldo). I can’t think of anyone named Wally from a book series, but I know a few Walters that get referred to a Wally on and off. I think Waldo was probably more popular in the early to mid 1900s, and probably more popular in areas with higher German populations.
Alas, I am but one data point.
Most Americans could name at least one famous Waldo, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Okay maybe not most anymore, people are dumb, but if you said the name then the literate ones might know he was a poet. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone named Wally or even heard of someone with the name, not even as a nickname.
