The nameWalter
Walter is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning "ruler of the army". It was a top 10 name in the United States in the early 20th century.
- Boy's name
- Germanic
Meaning
Walter comes from the Germanic wald, "rule, power", and hari, "army".
Origin
Germanic, through Norman French. The Normans brought it to England, where it was pronounced Water, which gave the surname Waters.
History
Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Walter Scott made the name famous in Britain. It reached the American top 10 in the 1910s. Walt Disney and Walter White of Breaking Bad are famous bearers.
Famous people named Walter
- Sir Walter Scott, writer
- Sir Walter Raleigh, explorer
- Walt Disney, producer
- Walter White, Breaking Bad character
Popularity of the name Walter
Walter in the United States
Walter was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 120,673 births over the decade, 19% of all recorded babies named Walter. Half of all babies named Walter in the United States were born before 1935, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 1,267 births a year.
Walter in the United Kingdom
Walter was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 1,037 births over the decade, 49% of all recorded babies named Walter. Its rise began around 2006, and it peaked in 2019. Half of all babies named Walter in the United Kingdom were born before 2018, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 139 births a year.
Walter in Ireland
Walter in France
Walter in Austria
Walter in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Walter
Names from the same generation as Walter, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Walter? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Walter with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Walter side by side with the name of your choice.
Walter in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Walter mean?
Walter comes from the Germanic wald, "rule, power", and hari, "army".
What is the origin of the name Walter?
Germanic, through Norman French. The Normans brought it to England, where it was pronounced Water, which gave the surname Waters.
Is Walter a girl's or a boy's name?
Walter is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Walter?
In 2024, Walter was the 271st most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,264 births.
What are the variants of the name Walter?
Variants and related names of Walter include Gautier.
What are good sibling names for Walter?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Mina, Jane, Anastasia and Alina for a sister, Louis, Lewis, Conrad and Frederick for a brother.
Who are famous people named Walter?
Sir Walter Scott, writer; Sir Walter Raleigh, explorer; Walt Disney, producer; Walter White, Breaking Bad character.