Walter
Walter is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Ruler of the army or commander of the warriors.
Origin and history
Walter is a traditional Germanic name derived from elements meaning commander of the army. Although overwhelmingly given to boys historically, it saw limited usage as a female name in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, female usage of Walter in the U.S. is extremely rare.
Popularity in the United States
3,632 babies in the United States have been named Walter since 1880. It ranks #2927 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- TX (19 %)
- NY (17.1 %)
- GA (16.1 %)
- PA (11.4 %)
- AL (9.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 70 |
| 1890-1900 | 118 |
| 1900-1910 | 129 |
| 1910-1920 | 490 |
| 1920-1930 | 864 |
| 1930-1940 | 581 |
| 1940-1950 | 378 |
| 1950-1960 | 332 |
| 1960-1970 | 266 |
| 1970-1980 | 216 |
| 1980-1990 | 150 |
| 1990-2000 | 38 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Nicknames
Walt, Wally
Fun facts
- Over 3,600 females in the U.S. were registered with the first name Walter in historical records, primarily before the mid-20th century.
- The name originates from the Old High German elements 'walt' (rule, power) and 'hari' (army).