Walter first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Walter has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Walter

A masculine German name meaning "army ruler".

Popularity of Walter by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Walter is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Walter being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,272 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Walter.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 1,272 0
2022 1,273 0
2021 1,279 0
2020 1,235 0
2019 1,281 0
2018 1,312 0
2017 1,366 0
2016 1,171 0
2015 1,157 0
2014 987 0
2013 939 0
2012 803 0
2011 800 0
2010 783 0
2009 789 0
2008 764 0
2007 810 0
2006 850 0
2005 770 0
2004 766 0
2003 775 0
2002 833 0
2001 826 0
2000 949 0
1999 918 0
1998 896 0
1997 1,026 0
1996 1,035 0
1995 1,062 6
1994 1,152 7
1993 1,356 8
1992 1,421 10
1991 1,539 0
1990 1,614 7
1989 1,611 6
1988 1,610 23
1987 1,574 20
1986 1,715 10
1985 1,689 20
1984 1,690 9
1983 1,766 10
1982 1,912 19
1981 1,990 17
1980 2,010 16
1979 2,122 22
1978 1,990 22
1977 2,185 13
1976 2,102 20
1975 2,359 24
1974 2,486 11

The history of the first name Walter

The name Walter has its origins in the Germanic language, derived from the elements "wald" meaning "ruler" and "heri" meaning "army." It can be translated as "commander of the army" or "ruler of the host." The name first emerged during the late Roman period, around the 4th or 5th century AD.

Walter was a popular name among the Frankish and Germanic peoples of central and western Europe. Its earliest recorded use was in the 6th century, appearing in various medieval records and chronicles. Similar spellings from this time include Waltharius, Waltherus, and Waltarius.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Walter of Aquitaine, a Frankish nobleman who lived in the 8th century. He served as a Count under the Carolingian dynasty and played a role in the wars against the Moors in southern France.

In the 9th century, Walter of Sens was a renowned Benedictine abbot and theologian. He was known for his contributions to the development of scholastic theology and his writings on the Eucharist.

During the Middle Ages, the name Walter was borne by several prominent figures. Walter the Chancellor was an English historian and courtier who lived in the 12th century and wrote an important chronicle of the Norman kings.

Walter de Copton, also known as Walter of Coventry, was a 13th-century English prelate and statesman. He served as Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and played a significant role in the political affairs of his time.

In the 14th century, Walter de Milemete was an English philosopher and scholar who wrote extensively on various subjects, including astronomy, astrology, and mathematics.

As the name spread across Europe, it was adopted by individuals from different walks of life, including noblemen, clergy, and scholars. Notable bearers of the name in later centuries include Walter Raleigh, the English explorer and writer (1552-1618), and Walter Scott, the renowned Scottish novelist and poet (1771-1832).

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Walter was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Walter, please contact us.

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"Walter first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 4, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/walter-meaning-and-history/.

"Walter first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/walter-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 December, 2024

Walter first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/walter-meaning-and-history/.

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