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BabyNames
Boy name#55 of boy names

Walter

Pronounced W AO1 L T ER0 (ARPABET)

  • 2 syllables
  • Peaked 1918
  • 145 years in use
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How popular is Walter?

Walter is a boys' name, and has been in the record since the data starts in 1880. It has been given to 633,540 children — the 55th most common boys' name on record.

It peaked in 1918, went quiet for most of a century, and is climbing again. Its best single year was 1918, when 13,338 children were given it.

05,00010,00015,00020,00018901920195019802010
1918Boys: 13,338Girls: 80

Nicknames

Common short forms: Wally.

Characteristics

  • 2 syllables
Phonetic detail
Pronunciations:
W AO1 L T ER0
Stress pattern:
10
Syllables:
2

Stress digits mark unstressed (0), primary (1) and secondary (2) syllables.

Names like Walter

Same first letter and syllable count, peaking around the same time.

Sibling names for Walter

Names from the same era with a matching rhythm but a different initial.

Frequently asked questions

How popular is the name Walter?
Walter ranks 55th among boys' names in US records, with 633,540 births since 1880. Over the past decade it accounts for 12,627.
Is Walter a unisex name?
No. Walter is recorded almost entirely as a boys' name; births to the other gender are too few to register as a share.
When was Walter most popular?
1918, when 13,338 children were given the name. It has been in use for 145 years and is still recorded as of 2024.
What are common nicknames for Walter?
Wally. These are recorded as separate names in their own right, so each has its own page and its own popularity curve.