Walter
Germanic, from Walthari, joining an element meaning rule or power with one meaning army. The Normans carried it to England, where it also became a surname.
Walter in 2025
Walter was given to 1,381 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 486th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 2,401 babies born.
The history of Walter
Walter reached its highest point in 1918, when 13,418 babies were given the name, ranking 22nd that year. Its best-ever ranking was 17th, in 1880.
Across the 146 years of records since 1880, 634,804 babies have been named Walter. Half of them were born before 1935, which places the name's centre of gravity with the Silent Generation.
Walter by decade
| Decade | Babies named Walter | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 18,255 | 17 |
| 1890s | 19,613 | 30 |
| 1900s | 20,126 | 42 |
| 1910s | 89,635 | 19 |
| 1920s | 120,673 | 25 |
| 1930s | 81,489 | 36 |
| 1940s | 84,106 | 57 |
| 1950s | 72,529 | 87 |
| 1960s | 46,195 | 156 |
| 1970s | 25,942 | 200 |
| 1980s | 17,718 | 281 |
| 1990s | 12,058 | 376 |
| 2000s | 8,133 | 636 |
| 2010s | 10,607 | 502 |
| 2020s | 7,725 | 486 |
Where Walter is heading
Walter has risen 19% over the past decade, from 1,158 babies in 2015 to 1,381 in 2025.
Names like Walter
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Walter.