Walter means ruler of the army — from the Germanic wald (rule) and heri (army). Walter White is TV's most famous transformation from teacher to drug lord. Walt Disney built the happiest place on Earth. Walt Whitman wrote Leaves of Grass. Walter Cronkite was the most trusted man in America. Two syllables of army-ruling that carry transformation, magic kingdoms, and trustworthy journalism.
Walter comes from Germanic meaning ruler of the army. Breaking Bad's Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is TV's most famous character transformation. Walt Disney (1901–1966) created the most beloved entertainment empire. Walt Whitman (1819–1892) wrote Leaves of Grass, the most important book of American poetry. Walter Cronkite was the most trusted man in America.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Norman England; used continuously since the medieval period.
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Today
Walter remains a beloved choice, ranking #278 in the US. 633,415 babies have been named Walter since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Walter?
1918peak year
Walter appears in U.S. registration data going all the way back to 1880, when records begin. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 1918, 13,338 babies were named Walter (ranked #11 nationally). Today it sits around #278, with roughly 1,263 babies named Walter each year. Walter's usage has held roughly steady recently. In total, around 633,415 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
13,338 Babies named in peak year (ranked #11)
1,263Avg. per year (last decade)
12,630Total registrations last 10 years
633,415All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #278)Very popular
Walter's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — ruling armies and magic kingdoms. People named Walter tend to be transformative, commanding, and capable of building empires from scratch.
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