Boy nameCurrently #271 in the USSteady
Walter
WAWL-ter//ˈwɔːltər//
2 syllablesPeak year: 19186 lettersStarts with W
Meaning & origin
Ruler of the army
Walter comes from the Germanic elements 'wald' (rule) and 'heri' (army), meaning 'army ruler'. A widely used medieval and early-20th-century name, it retains a sturdy, old-fashioned charm.
Walter's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Walter |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,763 |
| 1881 | 1,681 |
| 1882 | 1,812 |
| 1883 | 1,710 |
| 1884 | 1,909 |
| 1885 | 1,815 |
| 1886 | 1,891 |
| 1887 | 1,704 |
| 1888 | 2,045 |
| 1889 | 1,925 |
| 1890 | 1,917 |
| 1891 | 1,678 |
| 1892 | 2,239 |
| 1893 | 2,019 |
| 1894 | 2,027 |
| 1895 | 2,026 |
| 1896 | 2,026 |
| 1897 | 1,912 |
| 1898 | 2,013 |
| 1899 | 1,756 |
| 1900 | 2,309 |
| 1901 | 1,735 |
| 1902 | 1,870 |
| 1903 | 1,853 |
| 1904 | 1,886 |
| 1905 | 1,911 |
| 1906 | 1,946 |
| 1907 | 2,116 |
| 1908 | 2,198 |
| 1909 | 2,302 |
| 1910 | 2,607 |
| 1911 | 3,086 |
| 1912 | 5,848 |
| 1913 | 6,930 |
| 1914 | 8,999 |
| 1915 | 11,310 |
| 1916 | 11,834 |
| 1917 | 12,658 |
| 1918 | 13,418 |
| 1919 | 12,945 |
| 1920 | 13,363 |
| 1921 | 13,078 |
| 1922 | 12,714 |
| 1923 | 12,511 |
| 1924 | 12,782 |
| 1925 | 12,230 |
| 1926 | 11,866 |
| 1927 | 11,439 |
| 1928 | 10,740 |
| 1929 | 9,950 |
| 1930 | 9,815 |
| 1931 | 9,011 |
| 1932 | 8,743 |
| 1933 | 7,811 |
| 1934 | 8,153 |
| 1935 | 7,873 |
| 1936 | 7,572 |
| 1937 | 7,537 |
| 1938 | 7,598 |
| 1939 | 7,374 |
| 1940 | 7,762 |
| 1941 | 7,784 |
| 1942 | 8,726 |
| 1943 | 9,082 |
| 1944 | 8,203 |
| 1945 | 7,602 |
| 1946 | 8,711 |
| 1947 | 9,253 |
| 1948 | 8,655 |
| 1949 | 8,326 |
| 1950 | 7,834 |
| 1951 | 8,069 |
| 1952 | 7,925 |
| 1953 | 7,542 |
| 1954 | 7,520 |
| 1955 | 7,335 |
| 1956 | 7,055 |
| 1957 | 6,735 |
| 1958 | 6,348 |
| 1959 | 6,165 |
| 1960 | 5,797 |
| 1961 | 5,503 |
| 1962 | 5,314 |
| 1963 | 5,095 |
| 1964 | 4,859 |
| 1965 | 4,502 |
| 1966 | 4,080 |
| 1967 | 3,833 |
| 1968 | 3,618 |
| 1969 | 3,597 |
| 1970 | 3,615 |
| 1971 | 3,383 |
| 1972 | 2,947 |
| 1973 | 2,643 |
| 1974 | 2,498 |
| 1975 | 2,382 |
| 1976 | 2,122 |
| 1977 | 2,198 |
| 1978 | 2,013 |
| 1979 | 2,144 |
| 1980 | 2,026 |
| 1981 | 2,007 |
| 1982 | 1,931 |
| 1983 | 1,777 |
| 1984 | 1,698 |
| 1985 | 1,709 |
| 1986 | 1,725 |
| 1987 | 1,594 |
| 1988 | 1,633 |
| 1989 | 1,618 |
| 1990 | 1,621 |
| 1991 | 1,539 |
| 1992 | 1,431 |
| 1993 | 1,364 |
| 1994 | 1,159 |
| 1995 | 1,068 |
| 1996 | 1,035 |
| 1997 | 1,027 |
| 1998 | 896 |
| 1999 | 918 |
| 2000 | 949 |
| 2001 | 826 |
| 2002 | 833 |
| 2003 | 775 |
| 2004 | 766 |
| 2005 | 770 |
| 2006 | 850 |
| 2007 | 810 |
| 2008 | 764 |
| 2009 | 789 |
| 2010 | 784 |
| 2011 | 801 |
| 2012 | 805 |
| 2013 | 939 |
| 2014 | 987 |
| 2015 | 1,157 |
| 2016 | 1,172 |
| 2017 | 1,366 |
| 2018 | 1,313 |
| 2019 | 1,282 |
| 2020 | 1,240 |
| 2021 | 1,281 |
| 2022 | 1,278 |
| 2023 | 1,274 |
| 2024 | 1,264 |
Walter through the decades
- Walter peaked in 1918, when 13,418 babies were named Walter in the US.
- The 1920s were Walter's strongest decade, averaging 12,067 births a year.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Walter has risen 52% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Walter currently ranks #271 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Walt
Variants & spellings
Gualterio
Famous people named Walter
- Walt Disney — animator and entrepreneur (short form)