Walter Boy

Popularity: #241 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WAL-ter //ˈwɔːltər//

Origin: German; Old High German

Meaning: German: ruler of the army; Old High German: powerful warrior

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Walter has its roots in the Germanic elements "wald" meaning "rule" and "heri" meaning "army." The name was originally recorded in the form of "Walthari" in Old High German, which later evolved into "Walter" as it passed through various linguistic stages. The name made its way into Old French as "Gautier" before being adopted into Middle English, where it became widely used among the Anglo-Norman nobility following the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

Historically, Walter has been borne by several notable figures, including Walter of St. Victor, a 12th-century theologian, and Walter Raleigh, the English explorer and writer of the late 16th century.

The name also appears in various medieval texts, including the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, who used it in his writings during the late 14th century. Additionally, the name Walter is found in the context of the Bible, particularly in translations like the King James Bible, which contributed to its recognition in English-speaking cultures.

Culturally, the name Walter has been associated with strength and leadership due to its etymological roots. It has been used in various literary and historical contexts, symbolizing nobility and valor.

The diminutive form "Walt" has also emerged, reflecting a more informal and affectionate usage. Overall, Walter has maintained a significant presence in European history and literature, embodying qualities of authority and military prowess.

Famous people named Walter

In this section, you will find notable people named Walter. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Walter who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Walter who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Walter White is a fictional character best known for the television series Breaking Bad.

Walter Cronkite is a journalist best known for his role as a news anchor on CBS Evening News.

Walter Payton is a former professional football player best known for his career with the Chicago Bears.

Walter Mitty is a fictional character best known for the short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and its film adaptations.

Walter Becker was a musician best known as a co-founder of the band Steely Dan.

Walter Gropius was an architect best known for founding the Bauhaus school of design.

Walter Scott was a writer best known for his historical novels such as Ivanhoe and Rob Roy.

Walter Lippmann was a journalist and author best known for his work in political commentary and the book Public Opinion.

Walter Benjamin was a philosopher and cultural critic best known for his essays on aesthetics and modernity.

Walter Isaacson is a biographer and journalist best known for his biographies of Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Leonardo da Vinci.

Walter Salles is a film director best known for directing The Motorcycle Diaries and Central Station.

Walter Hill is a film director and producer best known for directing The Warriors and 48 Hrs.

Walter Koenig is an actor best known for his role as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek.

Walter Murch is a film editor and sound designer best known for his work on Apocalypse Now and The English Patient.

Walter Mosley is an author best known for his Easy Rawlins mystery series.

Walter Cronkite is a television journalist best known for his work as a news anchor for CBS News.

Fictional characters named Walter

The following list of fictional characters named Walter is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Walter White is a fictional character from the TV series Breaking Bad. He is a high school chemistry teacher who turns to cooking methamphetamine after being diagnosed with cancer.

Walter Mitty is a fictional character from the short story 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' by James Thurber. He is a daydreamer who escapes his mundane life through vivid fantasies of adventure and heroism.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Walter, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

WilliamWesleyWhitneyWinstonWaylonWyatt

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Walter. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

WalterinoWaldoWallaceWarrenWilburWilfredWendellWesley

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 New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Walter has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Walter is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Walter was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Walter.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,381 1,381 0
2024 1,269 1,269 0
2023 1,276 1,276 0
2022 1,278 1,278 0
2021 1,281 1,281 0
2020 1,240 1,240 0
2019 1,282 1,282 0
2018 1,313 1,313 0
2017 1,366 1,366 0
2016 1,172 1,172 0
2015 1,158 1,158 0
2014 987 987 0
2013 939 939 0
2012 805 805 0
2011 801 801 0
2010 784 784 0
2009 789 789 0
2008 764 764 0
2007 810 810 0
2006 850 850 0
2005 770 770 0
2004 767 767 0
2003 775 775 0
2002 833 833 0
2001 826 826 0
2000 949 949 0
1999 918 918 0
1998 896 896 0
1997 1,027 1,027 0
1996 1,035 1,035 0
1995 1,068 1,062 6
1994 1,159 1,152 7
1993 1,364 1,356 8
1992 1,431 1,421 10
1991 1,539 1,539 0
1990 1,621 1,614 7
1989 1,618 1,612 6
1988 1,633 1,610 23
1987 1,594 1,574 20
1986 1,725 1,715 10
1985 1,710 1,690 20
1984 1,698 1,689 9
1983 1,777 1,767 10
1982 1,931 1,912 19
1981 2,007 1,990 17
1980 2,025 2,009 16
1979 2,145 2,123 22
1978 2,013 1,991 22
1977 2,198 2,185 13
1976 2,121 2,101 20
1975 2,379 2,355 24
1974 2,498 2,487 11
1973 2,642 2,626 16
1972 2,948 2,918 30
1971 3,383 3,356 27
1970 3,615 3,584 31
1969 3,596 3,569 27
1968 3,618 3,589 29
1967 3,831 3,808 23
1966 4,081 4,057 24
1965 4,501 4,483 18
1964 4,858 4,843 15
1963 5,097 5,068 29
1962 5,316 5,282 34
1961 5,503 5,467 36
1960 5,794 5,763 31
1959 6,164 6,128 36
1958 6,351 6,316 35
1957 6,736 6,707 29
1956 7,054 7,019 35
1955 7,335 7,299 36
1954 7,520 7,486 34
1953 7,542 7,509 33
1952 7,923 7,897 26
1951 8,070 8,038 32
1950 7,834 7,798 36
1949 8,327 8,297 30
1948 8,655 8,627 28
1947 9,254 9,218 36
1946 8,711 8,668 43
1945 7,602 7,574 28
1944 8,203 8,159 44
1943 9,082 9,035 47
1942 8,727 8,682 45
1941 7,783 7,745 38
1940 7,762 7,723 39
1939 7,373 7,322 51
1938 7,599 7,560 39
1937 7,539 7,488 51
1936 7,572 7,536 36
1935 7,873 7,816 57
1934 8,153 8,092 61
1933 7,812 7,756 56
1932 8,742 8,667 75
1931 9,011 8,940 71
1930 9,815 9,731 84
1929 9,950 9,850 100
1928 10,740 10,651 89
1927 11,439 11,346 93
1926 11,866 11,774 92
1925 12,230 12,130 100
1924 12,782 12,696 86
1923 12,511 12,433 78
1922 12,714 12,631 83
1921 13,078 13,004 74
1920 13,363 13,294 69
1919 12,945 12,879 66
1918 13,418 13,338 80
1917 12,658 12,582 76
1916 11,834 11,760 74
1915 11,310 11,255 55
1914 8,999 8,962 37
1913 6,930 6,890 40
1912 5,848 5,809 39
1911 3,086 3,074 12
1910 2,607 2,596 11
1909 2,302 2,287 15
1908 2,198 2,192 6
1907 2,116 2,095 21
1906 1,946 1,934 12
1905 1,911 1,902 9
1904 1,886 1,873 13
1903 1,853 1,840 13
1902 1,870 1,858 12
1901 1,735 1,718 17
1900 2,309 2,298 11
1899 1,756 1,750 6
1898 2,013 2,002 11
1897 1,912 1,895 17
1896 2,026 2,017 9
1895 2,026 2,015 11
1894 2,027 2,010 17
1893 2,019 2,004 15
1892 2,239 2,229 10
1891 1,678 1,668 10
1890 1,917 1,905 12
1889 1,925 1,916 9
1888 2,045 2,040 5
1887 1,704 1,704 0
1886 1,891 1,880 11
1885 1,815 1,808 7
1884 1,909 1,902 7
1883 1,710 1,705 5
1882 1,812 1,805 7
1881 1,681 1,670 11
1880 1,763 1,755 8

Top States for Walter (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 90
7%
CA 75
6%
GA 57
5%
WI 56
5%
MI 48
4%
MN 48
4%
NY 48
4%
OH 48
4%
NC 46
4%
PA 45
4%
MO 44
4%
TN 43
3%
IL 40
3%
FL 37
3%
IN 36
3%
WA 36
3%
CO 35
3%
AL 30
2%
MD 29
2%
KS 29
2%
VA 29
2%
MA 27
2%
UT 26
2%
AZ 22
2%
OR 22
2%
NJ 18
1%
LA 18
1%
IA 17
1%
KY 17
1%
SC 16
1%
NE 16
1%
ID 12
1%
OK 12
1%
CT 11
1%
MS 11
1%
ND 9
1%
SD 7
1%
ME 6
0%
NV 6
0%
NH 6
0%
MT 6
0%
WV 5
0%