Walter Boy
Origin(s)
German; Old High German
Meaning
German: ruler of the army; Old High German: powerful warrior
Historical & Cultural Background
Walter has been a popular name in various cultures, particularly in German-speaking countries. It was introduced to England by the Normans and became common in medieval times. The name has been borne by several notable figures throughout history, contributing to its enduring popularity.
Trend Summary
Walter has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, peaking in the early 20th century and gradually declining in recent decades.
Similar Names
Walterino, Waldo, Wallace, Warren, Wilbur, Wilfred, Wendell
Variants
- Walt
- Walther
International Variants
- Gualtiero (Italian)
- Valter (Scandinavian)
- Walther (German)
Famous people named Walter
Walter Cronkite was a prominent American broadcast journalist, known for his role as the anchor of the CBS Evening News.
Walter White is a fictional character from the television series 'Breaking Bad', known for his transformation from a high school chemistry teacher to a drug kingpin.
Walter Scott was a Scottish historical novelist and poet, famous for works such as 'Ivanhoe' and 'Rob Roy'.
Walter Payton was an American football player, celebrated as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.
Fictional characters named Walter
Walter Mitty is the main character in 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty', known for his vivid daydreams and adventures.
Walter Bishop is a character from the television series 'Fringe', recognized for his eccentric personality and scientific genius.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Walter was first seen in the United States in 1880. Walter has ranked as high as #22 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Walter has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
All data featured information on this baby name page is provided from official Social Security Administration databases. Names, Gender, and Birthdates are updated annually by the SSA for both national and state birth totals. Our records on the national level data back to 1880. If a chart starts after 1880 it's because that baby name first appeared in official SSA records at that time. If you're name shows a data after your birthdate as a start pointing, feel free to contact us using our contact section and we'll happily update with your birth year.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Walter (2024)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 90 | |
| CA | 75 | |
| GA | 57 | |
| WI | 56 | |
| OH | 48 | |
| MI | 48 | |
| MN | 48 | |
| NY | 48 | |
| NC | 46 | |
| PA | 45 | |
| MO | 44 | |
| TN | 43 | |
| IL | 40 | |
| FL | 37 | |
| WA | 36 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,755 |
| 1881 | 1,670 |
| 1882 | 1,805 |
| 1883 | 1,705 |
| 1884 | 1,902 |
| 1885 | 1,808 |
| 1886 | 1,880 |
| 1887 | 1,704 |
| 1888 | 2,040 |
| 1889 | 1,916 |
| 1890 | 1,905 |
| 1891 | 1,668 |
| 1892 | 2,229 |
| 1893 | 2,004 |
| 1894 | 2,010 |
| 1895 | 2,015 |
| 1896 | 2,017 |
| 1897 | 1,895 |
| 1898 | 2,002 |
| 1899 | 1,750 |
| 1900 | 2,298 |
| 1901 | 1,718 |
| 1902 | 1,858 |
| 1903 | 1,840 |
| 1904 | 1,873 |
| 1905 | 1,902 |
| 1906 | 1,934 |
| 1907 | 2,095 |
| 1908 | 2,192 |
| 1909 | 2,287 |
| 1910 | 2,596 |
| 1911 | 3,074 |
| 1912 | 5,809 |
| 1913 | 6,890 |
| 1914 | 8,962 |
| 1915 | 11,255 |
| 1916 | 11,760 |
| 1917 | 12,582 |
| 1918 | 13,338 |
| 1919 | 12,879 |
| 1920 | 13,294 |
| 1921 | 13,004 |
| 1922 | 12,631 |
| 1923 | 12,433 |
| 1924 | 12,696 |
| 1925 | 12,130 |
| 1926 | 11,774 |
| 1927 | 11,346 |
| 1928 | 10,651 |
| 1929 | 9,850 |
| 1930 | 9,731 |
| 1931 | 8,940 |
| 1932 | 8,668 |
| 1933 | 7,755 |
| 1934 | 8,092 |
| 1935 | 7,816 |
| 1936 | 7,536 |
| 1937 | 7,486 |
| 1938 | 7,559 |
| 1939 | 7,323 |
| 1940 | 7,723 |
| 1941 | 7,746 |
| 1942 | 8,681 |
| 1943 | 9,035 |
| 1944 | 8,159 |
| 1945 | 7,574 |
| 1946 | 8,668 |
| 1947 | 9,217 |
| 1948 | 8,627 |
| 1949 | 8,296 |
| 1950 | 7,798 |
| 1951 | 8,037 |
| 1952 | 7,899 |
| 1953 | 7,509 |
| 1954 | 7,486 |
| 1955 | 7,299 |
| 1956 | 7,020 |
| 1957 | 6,706 |
| 1958 | 6,313 |
| 1959 | 6,129 |
| 1960 | 5,766 |
| 1961 | 5,467 |
| 1962 | 5,280 |
| 1963 | 5,066 |
| 1964 | 4,844 |
| 1965 | 4,484 |
| 1966 | 4,056 |
| 1967 | 3,810 |
| 1968 | 3,589 |
| 1969 | 3,570 |
| 1970 | 3,584 |
| 1971 | 3,356 |
| 1972 | 2,917 |
| 1973 | 2,627 |
| 1974 | 2,487 |
| 1975 | 2,358 |
| 1976 | 2,102 |
| 1977 | 2,185 |
| 1978 | 1,991 |
| 1979 | 2,122 |
| 1980 | 2,010 |
| 1981 | 1,990 |
| 1982 | 1,912 |
| 1983 | 1,767 |
| 1984 | 1,689 |
| 1985 | 1,689 |
| 1986 | 1,715 |
| 1987 | 1,574 |
| 1988 | 1,610 |
| 1989 | 1,612 |
| 1990 | 1,614 |
| 1991 | 1,539 |
| 1992 | 1,421 |
| 1993 | 1,356 |
| 1994 | 1,152 |
| 1995 | 1,062 |
| 1996 | 1,035 |
| 1997 | 1,027 |
| 1998 | 896 |
| 1999 | 918 |
| 2000 | 949 |
| 2001 | 826 |
| 2002 | 833 |
| 2003 | 775 |
| 2004 | 766 |
| 2005 | 770 |
| 2006 | 850 |
| 2007 | 810 |
| 2008 | 764 |
| 2009 | 789 |
| 2010 | 784 |
| 2011 | 801 |
| 2012 | 805 |
| 2013 | 939 |
| 2014 | 987 |
| 2015 | 1,157 |
| 2016 | 1,172 |
| 2017 | 1,366 |
| 2018 | 1,313 |
| 2019 | 1,282 |
| 2020 | 1,240 |
| 2021 | 1,281 |
| 2022 | 1,278 |
| 2023 | 1,274 |
| 2024 | 1,264 |