MallowbyNames

Walter

WAHL-ter · ruler of the army

2025 rank (boys)
#251
Babies named in 2025
1,381
Peak popularity
1892
2025 frequency
1 in 1,237 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Rising since 2008

A 1890s favorite, climbing again.

Popularity of Walter since 1880

Babies named Walter per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Walter's real moment was 1892.

4.4k8.9k13.3k1880192019602000Most births 1918Boys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeBoys
1880s18,185
1890s19,495
1900s19,997
1910s89,145
1920s119,809
1930s80,908
1940s83,728
1950s72,197
1960s45,929
1970s25,726
1980s17,568
1990s12,020
2000s8,133
2010s10,607
2020s7,725

Meaning & origin

Walter is a strong, classic name of German origin that has been a consistent presence in the United States for well over a century. According to Social Security data, the name first appeared in the records in 1880, and its peak popularity came in 1892 when it was a top favorite. While its usage declined slowly through the 20th century, Walter never left the charts and has been experiencing a quiet revival since 2008. As of 2025, it stands at rank number 251, given to approximately 1 in 1,237 baby boys. The name's steady appeal is reflected in its strong regional popularity, particularly in states like Vermont, North Dakota, and Minnesota, where traditional names are often prized. Walter carries a dignified, old-fashioned charm that pairs well with vintage sibling choices like Louis, George, and Beatrice.

Walter derives from the Old High German name Waltari, composed of the elements walt 'rule, power' and heri 'army'. It was introduced to England by the Normans in the form Waltier and became common in medieval Europe, especially through the popular Old French epic 'The Song of Roland' which features a knight named Walter. The name was borne by several saints and remained steadily used in the English-speaking world, particularly revived in the 19th century.

Where Walter is most popular

Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few births

Walter” around the world

Where Walter lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    5

    babies in 2024

  • Ireland

    3

    babies in 2025

  • New Zealand

    33

    babies in 2025

  • Quebec

    6

    babies in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Walt, Wally

Variants: Walther, Wouter, Gualtiero, Gauthier, Walt, Wallie

Sibling names for Walter

Names that share Walter's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Margaret, Esther, Lucille, Genevieve, Beatrice, Agnes, Alberta, Alma, Annie, Bernice, Bertha, Bette, Betty, Dorothy, Edith, Edna, Eleanor, Florence, Frances, Frieda, Geraldine, Gertrude, Gladys, Hattie, Ida, Irene, Irma, Laurel, Mamie, Marion, Marjorie, Mavis, Mildred, Muriel, Myrtle, Phyllis, Rose, Sylvia, Thelma, Adella, Aletha, Allene, Alline, Alva, Alyce, Audry, Berta, Blanch, Carrol, Clarice, Dorris, Dortha, Dorthy, Edythe, Elberta, Eleanore, Elma, Elnora, Elouise, Elva, Erna, Ernestine, Esta, Ethel, Ethelyn, Flossie, Freida, Gretta, Hettie, Laraine, Lida, Lorine, Louella, Luella, Lula, Mabelle, Mable, Maebelle, Maida, Margery, Margurite, Maud, Maude, Mayme, Mertie, Mittie, Norine, Ottie, Pearline, Rheta, Rosella, Roxie, Sybil, Tillie, Trudi, Virgia, Zella, Adelene, Alease, Allean, Alvena, Annice, Annis, Ardath, Arlyne, Beaulah, Bernetta, Birtha, Buelah, Burnice, Celesta, Charlsie, Chesley, Cicely, Cleora, Dallis, Delora, Delsie, Dorathy, Dorine, Dorotha, Dorthey, Eldora, Elenor, Elenore, Elmira, Elna, Elta, Elvera, Emmer, Emogene, Erline, Ethelene, Ethyl, Evelena, Fairy, Florrie, Freeda, Genevia, Genevie, Gertha, Gladis, Grayce, Hermine, Hertha, Idell, Ilda, Irine, Jennette, Jeraldine, Lanora, Lelah, Lilla, Madlyn, Majorie, Marinda, Maybell, Melda, Merna, Myrtice, Myrtie, Naoma, Olene, Phillis, Rosabelle, Roselle, Rossie, Rudi, Ruthe, Sherley, Shirlie, Tilda, Trudie, Velda, Vernia, Virgina, Adalene, Adline, Agness, Aileene, Aleda, Aleece, Alfreida, Aliene, Alleen, Allyne, Almedia, Aloma, Alverda, Alvia, Alyne, Anice, Ardys, Arleene, Arva, Audelia, Audery, Audre, Avanelle, Averil, Berdena, Beryle, Birdia, Carolene, Charlcie, Charletta, Clarene, Claris, Clemence, Clyda, Clydia, Dartha, Deetta, Dorla, Dorothey, Dorsie, Eathel, Edmonia, Edrie, Ellene, Ellin, Elner, Elnor, Elsia, Elvena, Elynor, Ermine, Ethelda, Etheleen, Etheline, Ethlyn, Evlyn, Evone, Fleda, Florice, Francies, Garnetta, Geneve, Geraline, Girtha, Gladies, Glady, Hasel, Hazelle, Hellon, Helon, Helyn, Herma, Idabelle, Idelle, Ilma, Imagene, Imojean, Jennetta, Judyth, Laretta, Lauraine, Leanore, Lella, Leotha, Lesta, Levina, Linna, Lissie, Lodema, Lorane, Lorrine, Lovena, Lubertha, Lurlene, Lyndia, Mada, Maebell, Margaree, Marget, Margrette, Marilla, Marjie, Marlyne, Maudell, Maybel, Maymie, Minnette, Mirtha, Myrta, Nance, Odelle, Orlean, Orlena, Otelia, Otila, Pearla, Perlie, Phylliss, Rosabel, Rosalea, Rosalene, Rosalin, Rosemond, Rosilyn, Rozelle, Rozena, Ruther, Samella, Sheralyn, Thressa, Valjean, Vangie, Veatrice, Venna, Vietta, Waleska, Walterine, Wanna, Weltha, Willena, Willine, Willma, Albirta, Aldena, Aleatha, Allice, Alliene, Aneita, Annise, Antha, Arlyce, Bertice, Betha, Bethene, Beverlie, Caroleen, Caryle, Charleene, Chrystine, Clarabel, Clariece, Clarine, Clela, Cressie, Cybil, Darcus, Dorthie, Edell, Editha, Edithe, Ednamae, Edyth, Elcie, Elery, Eletha, Ellamay, Ellan, Ellenora, Ellon, Elmire, Emagene, Ernesta, Ernestene, Ethelmae, Ethelyne, Eutha, Evaleen, Evva, Floella, Florance, Floriene, Geniva, Gertrue, Gloris, Hazeline, Henritta, Hermie, Hetty, Iline, Jeanet, Joyceann, Lavora, Leita, Lenor, Liller, Lucindy, Lucyle, Lucylle, Ludell, Lutisha, Mabell, Mahaley, Mardel, Margurette, Maryon, Maudry, Mazelle, Merrit, Mirtie, Modell, Murial, Myrtha, Nicie, Normalee, Obera, Opel, Othelia, Paulyne, Pearlena, Reida, Rilda, Rosamary, Roselene, Rubyann, Ruthell, Sallee, Shellia, Shirely, Shirly, Teckla, Thersa, Uldine, Veria, Wreatha, Arliene, Earlee, Eithel, Estalene, Francess, Glayds, Adlean, Agusta, Alleta, Alleyne, Alveria, Alvine, Armine, Athalee, Athalene, Avenell, Berda, Bessye, Bettey, Bitha, Breta, Clarece, Cleva, Clevie, Clista, Doryce, Dovey, Eddis, Edwyna, Elfriede, Eltha, Emmogene, Erdine, Ermel, Ermina, Ethell, Etoy, Flornce, Francelia, Francys, Freada, Gaytha, Genette, Gladie, Gladyes, Glenyce, Glorya, Gustie, Hattye, Idabell, Inice, Jenet, Jeroline, Lavine, Lealer, Leaner, Leanor, Lillar, Luceil, Madell, Majel, Marg, Margerie, Margree, Marjoria, Marrian, Mayre, Mercia, Merian, Merriel, Myldred, Nedda, Nelsie, Noralyn, Olivene, Onetta, Orabelle, Otie, Parilee, Raymonda, Rether, Rosalynd, Ruthel, Ruthella, Ruthia, Sharley, Shirle, Sinda, Sybel, Thedora, Thursa, Valta, Vergene, Walda, Walta, Waneda, Welma, Wilba, Wilna

Brothers: Louis, George, Robin, Francis, Leroy, Albert, Alfred, Alvin, Arnold, Bernard, Bert, Carl, Cecil, Chester, Clarence, Earnest, Edgar, Edmond, Edwin, Elton, Ernest, Eugene, Frank, Franklin, Gilbert, Grover, Guy, Harold, Harvey, Herbert, Herman, Howard, Hugh, Irvin, Lewis, Martin, Marvin, Milton, Morris, Nelson, Norman, Ralph, Raymond, Rodger, Roland, Wallace, Wilbur, Aleck, Alford, Art, Bernie, Burt, Claud, Clement, Conrad, Dewitt, Dudley, Earle, Edmon, Edson, Elbert, Eldon, Ellwood, Elmo, Emmet, Ernie, Errol, Franklyn, Fredric, German, Gorge, Harmon, Irving, Irwin, Judson, Lenard, Lenord, Marlin, Maynard, Morton, Newton, Olen, Percy, Rolland, Rollin, Ruel, Sherman, Talmadge, Warner, Wilber, Wilmer, Abbott, Adler, Arley, Arther, Artis, Author, Benard, Calvert, Carlyle, Clarance, Clearence, Clemon, Denzil, Elwin, Ernst, Erskine, Fenton, Gearld, Giles, Godfrey, Heyward, Kennard, Konrad, Lawerence, Linton, Lovell, Maury, Mayer, Melville, Mercer, Norton, Oris, Orland, Ramond, Randle, Rexford, Roswell, Rowland, Sumner, Wayland, Waymond, Woodie, Alferd, Alger, Almer, Ancel, Arthor, Audley, Barnard, Barnie, Bernhardt, Bernis, Bertis, Burnie, Burr, Burtis, Carrel, Chancy, Clarnce, Clearnce, Cleven, Colbert, Conard, Earley, Edger, Eldrick, Elridge, Ermon, Erroll, Erven, Erving, Evertt, Ferd, Filbert, Gerrard, Gilman, Halbert, Hammond, Harless, Harrold, Herald, Hervey, Hobson, Ingram, Larence, Lavere, Lawernce, Lear, Lehman, Lennard, Lenoard, Loyde, Manson, Marston, Merril, Moody, Morrell, Murel, Myer, Obert, Olden, Ollis, Perley, Plummer, Pryor, Raynold, Reginold, Revis, Reymond, Rube, Rubert, Stanly, Talbert, Thedore, Tilmon, Vinton, Weyman, Woodroe, Addis, Alvy, Arby, Atwood, Aubra, Auther, Autrey, Averill, Barnet, Benford, Bernal, Bernerd, Bertin, Burley, Casmer, Clements, Cliford, Corbet, Dorse, Duglas, Emmert, Eward, Fernie, Filmore, Fread, Freeland, Gerhart, Gifford, Gurney, Harwood, Hassell, Hewitt, Huber, Irvan, Jerrard, Jervis, Kennet, Kennett, Leanord, Leory, Linard, Loras, Lytle, Needham, Orley, Osker, Osmond, Percell, Rayner, Raynor, Robley, Selden, Seymore, Stanely, Talton, Telford, Thelmer, Theone, Vere, Walfred, Wilkins, Willey, Wilver, Windel, Elman, Haward, Herberth, Herny, Olander, Alberth, Almus, Alroy, Alver, Arnol, Bazil, Bedford, Burman, Capers, Clerance, Custer, Drury, Edgel, Edman, Eldrige, Elick, Elsworth, Ermin, Eugine, Evart, Ewart, Goble, Harbert, Harce, Hasten, Julies, Larance, Lawarence, Leaman, Lorance, Mancil, Merion, Merville, Moris, Ogle, Orton, Raymound, Remer, Rosser, Samiel, Shafter, Stanlee, Tildon, Tillmon, Vernor, Weber, Willet, Willett, Wyley

Names like Walter

Names whose popularity has moved with Walter's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

W is for Walter, our favorite little boy.

W is for Walter…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Walter's letter becomes Walter's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Walter's book

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Questions parents ask

What does the name Walter mean?
Walter means 'ruler of the army', from the Old High German elements walt 'rule' and heri 'army'.
How popular is the name Walter?
In 2025, Walter ranked #251 in the United States, with about 1 in 1,237 baby boys receiving the name.
Is Walter a boy's or girl's name?
Walter is traditionally a masculine name and is used almost exclusively for boys.