Edvaldo

Edvaldo is a Portuguese masculine given name with notable bearers in Brazilian football and music. Its origin is debated: it may be a Portuguese form of Eadwald, an Old English name composed of the elements ead ("wealth, fortune") and weald ("powerful, mighty"). Alternatively, Edvaldo may be a modern coinage combining the popular prefix Ed- (as in Edson or Eduardo) with the suffix -valdo, derived from the Germanic element walt meaning "power, authority". This hybrid formation reflects a common trend in Portuguese naming, where Germanic and local elements blend.

Etymology

The name Edvaldo is etymologically related to the Germanic root *audaz ("riches, wealth") and *waldą ("power, authority"), making it cognate with Icelandic Eðvald. In Portuguese, alternative forms include Edivaldo and Divaldo, while the feminine counterpart is Edvalda. Linguistic sources trace its origin to a Germanic compound meaning "the power of wealth".

Notable Bearers

Edvaldo is best known through football players, including Edvaldo Alves de Santa Rosa (nicknamed Vavá), a striker who scored twice in Brazil's 1958 and 1962 World Cup final victories. Another bearer is Edvaldo Silva de Oliveira (known as Buião or Téio), a defender for the Portuguese national team. In music, Edvaldo Cruz (born 1961) was a disc jockey and presenter. The name is primarily encountered in Portugal and Brazil.

• Meaning: Possibly "the power of wealth" or a modern form blending Ed- and -valdo
• Origin: Portuguese with Germanic roots
• Type: First name
• Usage regions: Brazil, Portugal