Walter
Boy name · English · Old German
Meaningarmy ruler · Germanic
- US rank
- #251
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #10 in 1914
1,381 babies were named Walter in the US in 2025. It has climbed 21 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Walter you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,237 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Walter, 1,381 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Walter would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryWalter has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Walters, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1914, when it ranked #10. Today it's #251, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendWalter has climbed 21 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #251. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedWalter is most popular in Minnesota, where it ranks #73, followed by North Dakota (#93) and Vermont (#102). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Germanic, Walter means “army ruler”. Our records link it to English and Old German roots.
- OriginWalter is the #4 most popular Old German boy name in the US. That's out of 21 Old German boy and unisex names in our list.
About the name Walter
Walter is a boy name of English and Old German origin meaning “army ruler”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with W and ending in “-ter”. US birth records list Walter for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1914, when it ranked #10 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #251, with 1,381 babies.
Origin:English namesOld German names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 16,601 | 60 boys |
| 1890s | 17,075 | 59 boys |
| 1900s | 14,792 | 68 boys |
| 1910s | 13,398 | 75 boys |
| 1920s | 10,877 | 92 boys |
| 1930s | 7,665 | 130 boys |
| 1940s | 5,717 | 175 boys |
| 1950s | 3,598 | 278 boys |
| 1960s | 2,368 | 422 boys |
| 1970s | 1,552 | 645 boys |
| 1980s | 955 | 1,047 boys |
| 1990s | 614 | 1,628 boys |
| 2000s | 408 | 2,452 boys |
| 2010s | 566 | 1,766 boys |
| 2020s | 746 | 1,341 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Walter
What does the name Walter mean?
Walter means “army ruler” in Germanic.
What is the origin of the name Walter?
Walter has English, Old German roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Walter a boy or girl name?
Walter is a boy name.
How popular is the name Walter?
Walter ranked #251 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,381 babies. Its best year was 1914 (#10).