Walther
Meaningarmy ruler · German form of Walter
- US rank
- #12,008
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #2,273 in 1913
5 babies were named Walther in the US in 2025.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1913–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Walther you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Walther
Walther Hermann Nernst
German physical chemist and physicist (1864–1941)
Choose Walther and your child shares a first name with Walther Hermann Nernst, a German physical chemist and physicist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Walther, like who?” Walther Hermann Nernst's Wikipedia article is available in 84 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Walther Hermann Nernst on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 344,828 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Walther, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Walther would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryWalther first shows up in US birth records in 1913, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 112 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1913, when it ranked #2,273. Today it's #12,008, so it could be due a comeback.
- MeaningWalther is a German form of Walter, which means “army ruler”. Our records link it to English and German roots.
About the name Walther
Walther is a boy name of English and German origin meaning “army ruler”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with W and ending in “-her”. US birth records list Walther for boys from 1913 to 2025, in 17 of those 113 years. Its best year was 1913, when it ranked #2,273 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #12,008, with 5 babies.
Origin:English namesGerman names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 2.0 | 510,949 boys |
| 1920s | 1.0 | 1,000,000 boys |
| 1930s | 0.5 | 2,173,913 boys |
| 1950s | 0.5 | 2,040,816 boys |
| 1980s | 0.3 | 2,857,143 boys |
| 1990s | 0.9 | 1,111,111 boys |
| 2000s | 1.1 | 917,431 boys |
| 2010s | 0.6 | 1,724,138 boys |
| 2020s | 0.5 | 2,068,966 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 Walther
What does the name Walther mean?
Walther means “army ruler” in German, as a form of Walter.
What is the origin of the name Walther?
Walther has English, German roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Walther a boy or girl name?
Walther is a boy name.
How popular is the name Walther?
Walther ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1913 (#2,273).