Boy · Germanic (via Norman French) · Christian · International
Walter
WalterSay it WAWL-ter
- Meaning today
- Army ruler, commander
- Original meaning
- "power, rule + army (Old High German walt, heri)" Gerhard Köbler, s.v. walt; s.v. heri
- Say it
- WAWL-ter
- Other spellings
- Walther, Valter
Walter
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Walter meaning
Walter is a Christian and international boy's name of Germanic origin (via Norman French).
Power, rule + army (Old High German walt, heri)
Also used to mean: army ruler, commander
Walter is an old Germanic name, Walthar among the Franks, made of two parts. Köbler's Old High German dictionary glosses walt as force and power, the word behind waltan, 'to rule', and heri as an army or host. Together they give the usual reading 'ruler of the army' or 'commander'. The Normans brought the name to England. Sir Walter Scott, the Scottish novelist, is among its famous bearers. In India Walter is used in Christian families.
Source: Gerhard Köbler, Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch (6th ed., 2014), s.v. walt; s.v. heri · entry walt; heri · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Köbler, Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, walt, waltan · Köbler, Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, heri · Wikipedia, Walter (name)
Famous namesakes
- Sir Walter Scott, Scottish novelist
Popularity abroad
- #252 United States, boys 2025 (up 19 from 271 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #334 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Walter · Walther · Valter