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Walter Name Origin: German
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Pronunciation: wall-ter
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Walter Name Meaning
The name Walter has a strong and powerful meaning, symbolizing bravery, courage, and strength. It’s often associated with leadership and the ability to command and lead others. It has been a popular name for centuries and continues to be so, as it remains a timeless classic that is always in style.
Origins of the Name Walter
Walter is a traditional and popular name with Germanic roots. It’s believed to have originated from the Old High German word “Walther,” which means “ruler of the army.” This name was quite popular among medieval knights and warriors, who were often called Walter.
Popularity of the Name Walter
Walter was a popular name in the United States in the early 1900s, peaking in popularity in the 1910s and 1920s. It remained a popular name throughout the mid-20th century, gradually declining in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the name Walter has experienced a resurgence in recent years, making it a popular choice once again.
Famous Walters
Throughout history, there have been many famous and influential people named Walter, including Walter Cronkite, the legendary CBS news anchor and journalist, and Walter Lippmann, an American journalist and political commentator. Walter Payton, the Hall of Fame NFL running back, and Walter Matthau, the Academy Award-winning actor, are also well-known people with the name Walter.
The name Walter has appeared in various forms of literature and pop culture, including the character Walter White in the popular television series Breaking Bad. Walter Mitty, the protagonist in the classic short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” is another well-known character with the name.
Final Thoughts on the Name Walter
The name Walter is a classic and timeless name that continues to be popular after centuries. It’s a strong and powerful name, with a rich history and strong meaning that symbolizes bravery, courage, and strength. Whether you’re looking for a traditional name with a timeless appeal or just love the sound of the name Walter, it’s a great choice for a baby boy.
Infographic of Walter name meaning, which is A German name, Walter means commander of the army.
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Walter Name Popularity
How popular is the name Walter? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
13 |
2,584 |
0.7339% |
| 1911 |
12 |
3,064 |
0.8228% |
| 1912 |
11 |
5,801 |
1.1503% |
| 1913 |
11 |
6,883 |
1.214% |
| 1914 |
10 |
8,962 |
1.286% |
| 1915 |
11 |
11,256 |
1.2389% |
| 1916 |
11 |
11,760 |
1.2174% |
| 1917 |
11 |
12,578 |
1.2573% |
| 1918 |
11 |
13,338 |
1.2428% |
| 1919 |
11 |
12,876 |
1.2297% |
| 1920 |
13 |
13,294 |
1.1956% |
| 1921 |
15 |
13,004 |
1.1357% |
| 1922 |
15 |
12,628 |
1.1335% |
| 1923 |
16 |
12,431 |
1.1099% |
| 1924 |
16 |
12,697 |
1.0934% |
| 1925 |
16 |
12,128 |
1.073% |
| 1926 |
17 |
11,766 |
1.0698% |
| 1927 |
17 |
11,338 |
1.0243% |
| 1928 |
18 |
10,651 |
0.9954% |
| 1929 |
19 |
9,847 |
0.9507% |
| 1930 |
19 |
9,728 |
0.9313% |
| 1931 |
20 |
8,941 |
0.9059% |
| 1932 |
21 |
8,656 |
0.8761% |
| 1933 |
21 |
7,756 |
0.8325% |
| 1934 |
21 |
8,089 |
0.8368% |
| 1935 |
23 |
7,811 |
0.8038% |
| 1936 |
26 |
7,535 |
0.7822% |
| 1937 |
26 |
7,479 |
0.759% |
| 1938 |
26 |
7,556 |
0.7381% |
| 1939 |
25 |
7,319 |
0.7195% |
| 1940 |
25 |
7,723 |
0.7266% |
| 1941 |
26 |
7,747 |
0.6883% |
| 1942 |
26 |
8,673 |
0.6868% |
| 1943 |
26 |
9,039 |
0.6924% |
| 1944 |
26 |
8,161 |
0.6585% |
| 1945 |
27 |
7,571 |
0.6208% |
| 1946 |
30 |
8,661 |
0.587% |
| 1947 |
34 |
9,213 |
0.5519% |
| 1948 |
35 |
8,626 |
0.5404% |
| 1949 |
37 |
8,292 |
0.5155% |
| 1950 |
40 |
7,792 |
0.4839% |
| 1951 |
42 |
8,042 |
0.4743% |
| 1952 |
44 |
7,904 |
0.4528% |
| 1953 |
45 |
7,507 |
0.4242% |
| 1954 |
49 |
7,479 |
0.4091% |
| 1955 |
51 |
7,300 |
0.3969% |
| 1956 |
53 |
7,012 |
0.3713% |
| 1957 |
58 |
6,710 |
0.3487% |
| 1958 |
62 |
6,305 |
0.3336% |
| 1959 |
66 |
6,118 |
0.322% |
| 1960 |
70 |
5,766 |
0.3043% |
| 1961 |
74 |
5,459 |
0.2892% |
| 1962 |
79 |
5,276 |
0.2874% |
| 1963 |
77 |
5,054 |
0.2816% |
| 1964 |
80 |
4,841 |
0.275% |
| 1965 |
82 |
4,485 |
0.2743% |
| 1966 |
83 |
4,046 |
0.2591% |
| 1967 |
81 |
3,800 |
0.2504% |
| 1968 |
83 |
3,580 |
0.2384% |
| 1969 |
84 |
3,560 |
0.2311% |
| 1970 |
89 |
3,586 |
0.2253% |
| 1971 |
91 |
3,349 |
0.2229% |
| 1972 |
98 |
2,897 |
0.2127% |
| 1973 |
100 |
2,622 |
0.2022% |
| 1974 |
105 |
2,474 |
0.1903% |
| 1975 |
111 |
2,350 |
0.1829% |
| 1976 |
128 |
2,087 |
0.1619% |
| 1977 |
123 |
2,176 |
0.1614% |
| 1978 |
131 |
1,985 |
0.1476% |
| 1979 |
128 |
2,109 |
0.1496% |
| 1980 |
138 |
1,991 |
0.1362% |
| 1981 |
138 |
1,974 |
0.1343% |
| 1982 |
147 |
1,898 |
0.127% |
| 1983 |
153 |
1,753 |
0.1188% |
| 1984 |
161 |
1,674 |
0.1125% |
| 1985 |
163 |
1,666 |
0.1098% |
| 1986 |
156 |
1,686 |
0.1117% |
| 1987 |
173 |
1,552 |
0.1017% |
| 1988 |
174 |
1,593 |
0.1022% |
| 1989 |
185 |
1,578 |
0.0978% |
| 1990 |
191 |
1,595 |
0.0962% |
| 1991 |
200 |
1,514 |
0.0929% |
| 1992 |
217 |
1,390 |
0.0871% |
| 1993 |
220 |
1,333 |
0.0855% |
| 1994 |
250 |
1,127 |
0.0734% |
| 1995 |
265 |
1,033 |
0.0685% |
| 1996 |
271 |
1,007 |
0.0673% |
| 1997 |
273 |
997 |
0.0674% |
| 1998 |
311 |
869 |
0.0581% |
| 1999 |
309 |
899 |
0.06% |
| 2000 |
309 |
916 |
0.06% |
| 2001 |
336 |
784 |
0.052% |
| 2002 |
325 |
818 |
0.0546% |
| 2003 |
355 |
744 |
0.0489% |
| 2004 |
363 |
732 |
0.048% |
| 2005 |
375 |
737 |
0.0482% |
| 2006 |
354 |
825 |
0.0527% |
| 2007 |
376 |
785 |
0.0498% |
| 2008 |
389 |
741 |
0.0479% |
| 2009 |
380 |
762 |
0.051% |
| 2010 |
372 |
744 |
0.0516% |
| 2011 |
370 |
775 |
0.0544% |
| 2012 |
376 |
763 |
0.0535% |
| 2013 |
337 |
921 |
0.0647% |
| 2014 |
334 |
956 |
0.0656% |
| 2015 |
305 |
1,138 |
0.0782% |
| 2016 |
298 |
1,141 |
0.0791% |
| 2017 |
263 |
1,332 |
0.0954% |
| 2018 |
268 |
1,276 |
0.0929% |
| 2019 |
276 |
1,248 |
0.0922% |
| 2020 |
279 |
1,145 |
0.09% |
| 2021 |
271 |
1,261 |
0.1032% |
| 2022 |
284 |
1,187 |
0.09% |
| 2023 |
267 |
1,257 |
0.0971% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Walter
If you like Walter, you’ll love these other names like Walter.
What names are diminutives of Walter?
A diminutive is a name that’s like Walter sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Walter, but shorter.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Walt
|
Commander of the army
|
German
|
|
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What names are variants of Walter?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Walter.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Gaultier
|
Strong ruler; commander of the army
|
European
|
|
|
|
Gauthier
|
Strong ruler
|
European
|
|
|
|
Gautier
|
Strong ruler; commander of the army
|
European
|
|
|
|
Gualterio
|
Strong ruler; commander of the army
|
European
|
|
|
|
Gualtiero
|
Strong ruler; commander of the army
|
European
|
|
|
|
Valter
|
Commander of the army
|
German
|
|
|
|
Valther
|
Commander of the army
|
German
|
|
|
|
Walder
|
Commander of the army
|
German
|
|
|
|
Wally
|
A diminutive form of Wallace.
|
French
|
|
|
|
Walt
|
Commander of the army
|
German
|
|
|
|
Walther
|
Commander of the army
|
German
|
|
|
|
Wat
|
Commander of the army
|
German
|
|
|
|
Watkins
|
Son of Walter, little Walter
|
English
|
|
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What names sound like Walter?
If you like how Walter sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Walter.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
What names are similar to Walter?
Find a name that’s like Walter, but just a little bit different.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Galt
|
Steep wooded land
|
English
|
|
|
|
Walden
|
Wooded valley
|
English
|
|
|
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Watt
|
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Scottish
|
|
|
Lists With Walter
Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Walter.
Siblings of Walter
Mamas with kids named Walter also have kids with these names.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Henry
|
Home ruler
|
English
|
|
|
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Harvey
|
Battle ready
|
English
|
|
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