Walter
How to say it: WAWL-tur · /ˈwɔltər/
From Old German 'Waldhar', meaning 'ruler of the army' (wald = rule, heri = army).
Walter was the 269th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,381 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are up about 19% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #266 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #269 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,381 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,400 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | +19% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #266 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long established, Walter saw its greatest use back in the 1890s. Far under that historic high today, it is nevertheless expected to move upward again.
What goes with it
Mellow and soft in two syllables, Walter conveys strength of an older kind. Walt is the familiar short form and Arthur shares its classic manner.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Walter is about 1 in 100.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #336.
Famous people named Walter
- Walter Scott (1771–1832)Scottish novelist, poet and playwright
- Walter Benjamin (1892–1940)German cultural critic, philosopher and social critic
- Walter Gropius (1883–1969)German-American architect
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Walter White, meth kingpin protagonist of Breaking Bad
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