Walter

Meaning & Origin

Meaning: Ruler of the Army; Commander

Background: The name Walter originates from the Germanic elements 'wald' meaning 'rule' and 'heri' meaning 'army.' It was later adopted into Latin as 'Walterius,' retaining the same meaning of a ruler or commander of armies.

At a glance

Quick stats based on the history of this name.

Lifetime rank
#50
Total births
633,415
Most popular decade
1910s (268,905 births)
10-year trend
↑ Rising (+66 ranks)
Years in Top 100
93
First recorded year
1880

Gender usage

99.4% male 0.6% female

Stats by gender

Male

First year
1880
First year births
1,755
First year rank
#13
Peak year
1918
Peak year births
13,338
Peak rank
#11
Most recent year
2024
Recent year births
1,264
Recent rank
#271

Female

First year
1880
First year births
8
First year rank
#628
Peak year
1925
Peak year births
100
Peak rank
#736
Most recent year
1995
Recent year births
6
Recent rank
#11,782

Births over time

Number of babies given this name each year.

Rank over time

Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).

Related links