Walter as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Walter

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The baby name Walter is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈwɔːltər/ (UK),/ˈwɔltər/ or /ˈwɑltər/ (US).

Gender: Male

Syllables: 2.0

Pronunciation: /ˈwɔːltər/ (UK),/ˈwɔltər/ or /ˈwɑltər/ (US)

What is the meaning of the name Walter ?

The baby name Walter is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈwɔːltər/ (UK),/ˈwɔltər/ or /ˈwɑltər/ (US).

Walter is in Origin.

Walter derives from Old High German Walthari/Waldhar, from wald- “rule, command” + hari “army,” thus “ruler of the army” or “commander of the host.” Brought to England by the Normans (whose Old French form was Gaultier/Gautier), it became a staple of medieval records; the short form Wat produced surnames like Watts and Watson. The spelling Walther persisted in German, while Walter settled as the standard in English.

International variants include German Walther, Dutch Wouter, French Gauthier/Gautier, Italian Gualtiero, Spanish/Portuguese Gualter, Scandinavian Valter, and Finnish Valtteri; diminutives include Walt and Wally. The name enjoyed a strong revival in the 19th century and ranked highly in the United States through the early 20th, aided by figures such as Sir Walter Scott, Walt Whitman, and Walter Raleigh. Today Walter reads as a solid, gently vintage classic with cross-cultural familiarity and enduring gravitas.

Walter has the following similar or variant Names

Walter Ulbricht Politician · Born 1893 · German Democratic Republic Walter Ulbricht was a German communist politician best known for helping found East Germany and shaping its early development. He played a leading role in the Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany (KPD) and later became one of the central figures in establishing the German Democratic Republic.	Walter Raleigh Politician · Born 1554 · Kingdom of England Walter Raleigh was best known as an English explorer and courtier in the Elizabethan era. He was also a statesman, soldier, and writer, remembered for his expeditions to the Americas and for popularizing tobacco and potatoes in England.	Walter Scheel Politician · Born 1919 · Germany Walter Scheel was a German statesman best known for serving as President of Germany from 1974 to 1979. He was also Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development from 1961 to 1966 and a member of the Free Democratic Party after joining it in 1946.
Walter Matthau Actor · Born 1920 · United States Walter Matthau was an American actor best known for playing gruff, world-weary characters, especially in The Odd Couple. He also starred with his friend Jack Lemmon in films like Grumpy Old Men and was known for his distinctive hangdog face.	Walter Lippmann Politician · Born 1889 · United States Walter Lippmann was an American journalist and political commentator best known for helping popularize the concept of the Cold War and for shaping modern discussions of media and public opinion. Over a 60-year career, he also introduced the modern psychological use of the term "stereotype" and became especially known for works like Public Opinion and his long-running newspaper column.	Walther Funk Politician · Born 1890 · Germany Walther Funk was a German economist and high-ranking Nazi official best known for serving as Reich Minister of Economics and president of the Reichsbank during World War II. He helped direct Germany’s wartime economy and was involved in the seizure of property taken from victims of Nazi concentration camps; after the war, he was convicted as a war criminal.

Walter Bagehot

Politician · Born 1826 · United Kingdom

Walter Bagehot was an English journalist, businessman, and essayist best known for The English Constitution and Lombard Street: A Description of the Money Market, as well as for co-founding the National Review in 1855. He wrote widely about government, economics, literature, and race.

Walter Veltroni

Politician · Born 1955 · Italy

Walter Veltroni is best known as an Italian politician who was the first leader of the Democratic Party. He is also a writer, journalist, and film director, and led Italy’s centre-left opposition until he resigned in February 2009.

Walter Koenig

Actor · Born 1936 · United States

Walter Koenig is an American actor and screenwriter best known for playing Ensign Pavel Chekov in Star Trek: The Original Series. He began acting professionally in the mid-1960s and rose to prominence through his work on the original Star Trek series.

Walter Gotell

Actor · Born 1924 · Germany

Walter Gotell was a German-British actor best known for playing General Gogol, the head of the KGB, in the Roger Moore-era James Bond films. He also appeared as the villain Morzeny in From Russia With Love.

Walter Mosley

Actor · Born 1952 · United States

Walter Mosley is best known for his crime fiction, especially the bestselling Easy Rawlins mystery series. He is an American novelist whose notable books include Devil in a Blue Dress, A Red Death, and White Butterfly, featuring a hardboiled private investigator in Los Angeles.

Walter Sedlmayr

Actor · Born 1926 · Germany

Walter Sedlmayr was best known as a popular Bavarian German actor in stage, television, and film. He appeared in well-known productions including Polizeiinspektion 1, Der Millionenbauer, and Kir Royal, and his 1990 murder was widely publicized.

Big Walter Horton

Musician · Born 1921 · United States

Big Walter Horton was one of the most celebrated blues harmonica players in history. Also known as Walter "Shakey" Horton, he was an American blues musician remembered for his expressive playing on songs like "Easy," "Have a Good Time," and "Little Boy Blue."

Walter Giller

Actor · Born 1927 · Germany

Walter Giller was a German actor best known for his success as a comedic leading man in the 1950s and 1960s. Born in 1927, he became a familiar face in German film and remained known for his charm and comic timing until his death in 2011.

Walter Murphy

Musician · Born 1952 · United States

Walter Murphy is an American composer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer best known for the disco hit "A Fifth of Beethoven." He has also worked on music for Family Guy and American Dad!.

Walter Emanuel Jones

Actor · Born 1966 · United States

Walter Emanuel Jones is an American actor, martial artist, singer, and dancer best known for playing Zack Taylor, the original Black Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. He has also appeared on shows like Family Matters, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Name	Last Name(s)	Mother	Mother famous for	Fame Level	Father	Father famous for	Fame Level
Walter	Toscanini				Arturo Toscanini	musician	★★★★★

Walter – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country	Gender	Year	Rank	Born	of
Ireland	Boys	2025	#1	—	836
SV		0	#11	1	283
KR	Girls	0	#15	1	572
HN		0	#16	7	704
FJ	Boys	0	#17	1	603
BW		0	#18	2	960
SV	Boys	0	#19	10	352
PE	Boys	0	#21	20,429	14,506
Austria	Boys	0	#27	4,015	2,180
NA		0	#27	7	2,537
HN	Boys	0	#28	26	749
AR	Boys	0	#29	6,828	7,628
BN		0	#31	2	2,297
HT	Boys	0	#34	1	903
GT	Boys	0	#37	3,377	7,625
Sweden	Boys	2022	#39	270	1,509
ID		0	#39	1	2,238
MT		0	#40	4	1,767
UY	Boys	0	#40	4,028	5,922
BI	Boys	0	#44	1	917
PE		0	#45	451	6,350
PR		0	#47	9	1,497
CR	Boys	0	#48	2,629	10,188
MO		0	#48	5	2,706
AO	Boys	0	#50	360	5,568
GT		0	#50	461	5,948
CM		0	#54	3	2,592
AO		0	#60	17	2,729
BO	Boys	0	#60	4,302	9,244
LU		0	#64	3	2,830
JP		0	#72	6	4,057
AR		0	#73	130	2,915
EC		0	#74	42	2,502
EC	Boys	0	#74	386	3,322
CN		0	#78	9	3,857
MV	Boys	0	#79	1	3,375
MD	Boys	0	#81	1	756
Norway	Boys	2025	#82	62	444
Austria		0	#82	179	850
BW	Boys	0	#86	65	4,685
BO		0	#91	458	6,868
JM		0	#92	2	3,714
IT	Boys	0	#93	31,627	10,046
CR		0	#96	63	5,526
TW		0	#98	6	4,523
QA		0	#102	5	7,011
CO	Boys	0	#103	10,350	15,656
PH		0	#105	6	5,607
PA		0	#107	24	3,797
NA	Boys	0	#108	138	6,830
GE	Boys	0	#109	2	2,055
HU		0	#113	3	1,675
KW		0	#116	6	5,216
UY		0	#116	63	2,477
OM		0	#120	2	6,215
Germany	Boys	0	#121	4,741	5,697
BN	Boys	0	#123	11	6,332
EE	Boys	0	#125	1	2,087
CY	Boys	0	#131	1	3,473
CL	Boys	0	#132	3,058	13,390
ID	Boys	0	#133	3	4,130
IQ		0	#133	1	3,533
Switzerland	Boys	2024	#135	3	1,769
GR		0	#135	1	3,911
PR	Boys	0	#135	41	2,508
MU		0	#137	1	3,613
PA	Boys	0	#142	698	9,305
ZA	Boys	0	#142	4,558	25,619
MT	Boys	0	#146	31	4,064
LT	Boys	0	#148	4	2,166
BW	Girls	0	#150	2	4,216
RS	Boys	0	#153	2	2,277
HU	Boys	0	#157	18	3,954
BR	Boys	0	#169	2,248	12,213
LU	Boys	0	#174	45	4,970
HR		0	#177	5	2,081
AE		0	#179	9	10,220
IT		0	#180	1,551	4,183
CZ		0	#183	4	3,154
MO	Boys	0	#183	41	5,842
PT	Boys	0	#183	231	7,951
LU	Girls	0	#189	2	4,850
NL	Boys	0	#190	2,255	5,873
RU		0	#193	2	3,641
Canada	Boys	2024	#200	109	2,588
CO		0	#201	440	7,768
TW	Boys	0	#204	38	7,111
DK		0	#206	1	5,198
PL		0	#208	5	2,600
SI	Boys	0	#208	4	3,402
CN	Boys	0	#209	116	9,639
JP	Boys	0	#214	84	7,909
AO	Girls	0	#215	3	4,575
BG	Boys	0	#216	5	3,850
PS		0	#222	5	5,692
HU	Girls	0	#225	1	3,308
IR		0	#228	4	4,221
HR	Boys	0	#231	28	3,997
PT		0	#232	15	4,161
HK	Boys	0	#235	496	12,905
Germany		0	#236	231	2,542
NA	Girls	0	#237	1	7,146
NG		0	#237	28	5,926
SG		0	#239	31	11,010
BD		0	#240	2	5,992
GH		0	#241	8	5,396
JM	Boys	0	#243	30	6,876
CL		0	#250	187	6,867
United States	Boys	2024	#252	1,264	7,044
EC	Girls	0	#254	5	3,650
NL		0	#258	139	2,481
ZA		0	#260	190	14,421
CZ	Boys	0	#265	40	6,530
PH	Boys	0	#265	121	11,440
PL	Boys	0	#265	71	6,459
GR	Boys	0	#267	7	6,912
HK		0	#268	82	8,483
BR		0	#269	78	5,969
AF	Boys	0	#274	1	3,535
Spain	Boys	0	#278	1,467	5,610
IL		0	#279	4	6,291
KZ	Boys	0	#279	11	6,578
SA		0	#281	15	10,560
GH	Boys	0	#286	61	8,138
MY		0	#297	34	12,352
AL	Boys	0	#298	6	5,122
DK	Boys	0	#310	16	7,401
MU	Boys	0	#319	39	8,477
CM	Boys	0	#328	257	12,054
Finland	Boys	0	#328	100	2,041
Finland	Boys	2026	#334	602	3,552
GH	Girls	0	#337	1	6,973
MX	Boys	0	#348	1,300	16,355
CZ	Girls	0	#351	1	5,378
CN	Girls	0	#357	3	8,829
MU	Girls	0	#360	3	8,539
MX		0	#365	49	8,339
Spain		0	#376	77	2,326
France	Boys	2021	#382	6	2,865
YE		0	#392	7	8,639
BD	Girls	0	#405	2	8,413
Austria	Girls	0	#408	13	1,885
EG		0	#410	3	6,387
OM	Girls	0	#418	7	15,987
PH	Girls	0	#429	1	13,098
RU	Boys	0	#437	69	12,621
NG	Boys	0	#438	817	16,906
SD	Boys	0	#464	3	10,523
SG	Boys	0	#465	239	17,960
GT	Girls	0	#483	23	7,500
UY	Girls	0	#494	17	6,731
IR	Boys	0	#502	51	10,162
PS	Boys	0	#504	45	10,655
BH		0	#508	46	17,937
PA	Girls	0	#513	6	9,861
LY		0	#518	18	12,703
CR	Girls	0	#523	10	11,342
RU	Girls	0	#523	1	11,913
MY	Boys	0	#544	679	25,439
AR	Girls	0	#549	51	8,289
CM	Girls	0	#554	7	11,671
BD	Boys	0	#567	10	10,045
IL	Boys	0	#567	41	10,983
BO	Girls	0	#591	21	9,488
HK	Girls	0	#602	14	16,104
QA	Boys	0	#623	85	18,093
SG	Girls	0	#632	1	18,916
IL	Girls	0	#645	1	11,648
IQ	Boys	0	#653	15	13,071
IN	Girls	0	#654	1	13,121
KW	Boys	0	#666	104	18,755
LB		0	#688	3	13,263
NG	Girls	0	#730	57	15,093
SY		0	#765	3	11,684
OM	Boys	0	#769	113	17,948
Germany	Girls	0	#806	33	4,949
TN		0	#814	16	13,765
CL	Girls	0	#833	19	14,098
PE	Girls	0	#843	101	14,861
EG	Boys	0	#857	30	15,035
BR	Girls	0	#917	25	12,708
AE	Boys	0	#941	152	22,615
IN	Boys	0	#965	37	16,750
Spain	Girls	0	#973	11	5,561
CO	Girls	0	#999	80	16,140
EG	Girls	0	#1,007	3	14,742
SA	Girls	0	#1,007	8	25,931
ZA	Girls	0	#1,037	105	25,928
MY	Girls	0	#1,066	7	24,821
MA		0	#1,078	51	20,986
DZ		0	#1,129	48	20,130
TR		0	#1,168	44	19,440
MX	Girls	0	#1,173	11	17,781
IT	Girls	0	#1,299	148	9,415
SA	Boys	0	#1,316	300	28,008

Walter is popular in 94 countries — most recent births per country:

France

Norway

Ireland

Scotland, United Kingdom

Canada

United States

Switzerland

Sweden

New York City (White, non-Hispanic), United States

Austria

Wallonia, Belgium

Germany

Spain

Finland

New York City (Hispanic), United States

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