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Walter Name Meaning, Origins & History

Walter

Pronunciation: WAWL-ter

Meaning Army of power Origin Germanic Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#252
TREND
19
Peak Years
1918, 1920, 1921
Lowest Years
2008, 2004, 2005
Energy Archetype
Persistent & Magnetic

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Walter in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Walter

  • An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 631,164 boys named Walter from 1880 through 2025.
  • Decades of popularity: Walter stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 93 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1972.
  • More than 634 thousand babies named Walter: U.S. records list 634,796 babies given the name Walter from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,632 girls received the name Walter - about 1 girl for every 174 boys.

What Does the Name Walter Mean?

Walter is the English form of a Germanic name meaning "ruler of the army" or "army commander." It derives from Old High German Walthari, formed from waltan "to rule" and heri "army." The Old English cognate Wealdhere used the same elements, but modern English Walter came through Norman French rather than from that native Old English form. Its sense is literal - a leader or ruler of an army - not a symbolic personality description.

Walter Name History & Origins

The name appears in Old High German as Walthari. In Old French it developed into forms such as Gautier and Wautier; the Norman French form Waltier was brought to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and became the English name Walter. Medieval English records and literature use the name, including Chaucer's The Clerk's Tale, where Walter is the marquis who marries Griselda. In twelfth-century Scotland, Walter fitz Alan held the office of Steward of Scotland, and the office became hereditary in his family; the Stewart royal line took its name from it. Later notable bearers include the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh and the writer Sir Walter Scott. The short forms Walt and Wally come from the English name, and cognates in other languages include German Walther, Italian Gualtiero, Spanish Gualterio, and French Gauthier.

How Popular is the Name Walter?

Walter has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 1972.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Walter

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

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How the Name Walter Shapes Your Personality and Life?

To express itself, you must follow the divine law of love. You have great persistence and hate to give up. You are a good mixer, charming, magnetic and intuitive. The spirituality is the key to success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.

✦ Walter's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Walter's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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