Walter

Q: What is the origin of Walter?

Walter is of Germanic origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Walter?

According to the latest SSA data, Walter is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Walter a girl name?

Walter is traditionally a girl name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

female

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Army Ruler"

From Germanic elements for rule and army, it entered England after the Norman Conquest and remained common through medieval periods.

Themes:armyrulergermanicmedieval

Royal Regal Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Dr. Elena Vasquez

Ph.D. Medieval History, StanfordPublished Academic ResearcherHistory Professor (Adjunct) • Historical Names Consultant

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Walter

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Walter did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Walter Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Walter.

10 ideas

Walt

Nickname

Wally

Nickname

waly

Nickname

walt

Nickname

wie

Nickname

lter

Nickname

tery

Nickname

Similar Names to Walter

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uh-MAN-duh

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AN-juh-luh

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Baby Name Lists That Include Walter

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Walter, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

19 linked lists

Famous Walters

W
Walter Cronkite
American broadcast journalist known as "the most trusted man in America"
S
Sir Walter Scott
Scottish historical novelist and poet

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Walter mean?

Walter means "Army Ruler". From Germanic elements for rule and army, it entered England after the Norman Conquest and remained common through medie

What is the origin of Walter?

Walter is of Germanic origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Walter?

According to the latest SSA data, Walter is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Walter a girl name?

Walter is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Walter?

Popular nicknames for Walter include Walt, Wally, waly, walt, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Walter?

There are many names similar to Walter in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginGermanic, English

Syllables2

Length6 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withW

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Arnold Aubrey Adolph Adolfo Alphonse

Sisters

Alberta Alissa Alisa Aubrie Adela

Explore More Girl Names Like Walter

Walter has Germanic roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Germanic baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Walter appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Warrior and Unique Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Royal Baby Names and Traditional English Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Walter pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Walter beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.