Declining since 2022, #3,314 for boys today.
Popularity of Walt since 1893
Babies named Walt per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Walt's real moment was 1893.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 68 |
| 1920s | 154 |
| 1930s | 232 |
| 1940s | 416 |
| 1950s | 366 |
| 1960s | 419 |
| 1970s | 182 |
| 1980s | 118 |
| 1990s | 76 |
| 2000s | 91 |
| 2010s | 254 |
| 2020s | 242 |
Meaning & origin
Walt first entered the U.S. naming record in 1893, the same year it achieved its peak rank of 170. Since then, its usage has steadily declined; by 2025 it stood at rank 3,314, with roughly 1 in 48,802 newborn boys receiving the name. The name's trajectory has been falling since 2022, reflecting its broader century-long fade from common use. Walt remains a concise, traditional masculine short form, deeply tied to the Germanic classic Walter, though it has rarely been used as an independent given name outside of its role as a nickname.
Walt is a short form of Walter, which derives from the Old High German elements 'walt' (rule) and 'heri' (army). The name was introduced to England by the Normans and became common in the Middle Ages. As an independent given name, it saw use in the United States from the late 19th century.
Sibling names for Walt
Names that share Walt's style, for a brother or sister.
