How Many People Are Named Walter?
Complete statistics for the name Walter: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Walter is a classic Germanic name meaning 'ruler of the army', and there are around 216,586 Walters living in the US today. That works out to about 1 in 1,524 Americans, making it uncommon by modern standards. It's a name with serious history behind it, and it's actually trending upward right now.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 7 is traditionally linked to deep thinking, inner wisdom, and a search for truth. People associated with 7 are often seen as introspective and analytical, drawn more to understanding the world than to the spotlight.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 87All 631,652 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1918Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Walter Through the Generations
Walter had its biggest moment in 1918, when 13,418 babies were given the name in a single year. That peak reflects just how dominant it was for much of the early 20th century, spending 52 years in the US top 10. The all-time birth count sits at 631,652, but only 216,586 Walters are estimated to be living today, which makes sense given the average age is 87. A striking 85% of all Walters are over 60, and the age split tells that story clearly, with 535,728 of the historical total falling in the over-60 bucket compared to just 27,916 under 30. What makes Walter genuinely interesting right now is the trend, it's rising. A name this tied to the older generation is quietly finding its way back into nurseries, which tracks with the broader revival of vintage names. It's old-school in the best way.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Walter
Walter is a German and English masculine given name of Germanic origin, composed of the elements meaning "power" or "ruler", and "army".…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Walter's Germanic roots
📄 About the Name Walter
How Many People Have the Name Walter?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 45,791 people in the United States currently share the name Walter. That works out to roughly 1 in every 7,238 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Walter a Common or Rare Name?
Walter is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Walter Mean?
Walter means "ruler of the army" and comes from Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Walter in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Walter Most Popular?
The name Walter reached peak popularity in 1918, with 13,418 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Walter?
Approximately 45,791 people named Walter live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 45,791. That works out to roughly 1 in 7,238 Americans.
Is Walter a rare name?
Walter is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 7,238 Americans has this name.
What does the name Walter mean?
Walter means "ruler of the army" and comes from Germanic origins.
Is Walter more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Walter are male and 1% are female.
When was Walter most popular?
Walter peaked in 1918 with 13,418 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.