Walter

Last seen for girls in 1995 at #11,783 · #251 for boys in 2025, 1,381 births
Given to boys 99.4% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1914 · 8,962 births
Debut · boys
1,755 births
In top 100 · boys
93 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
631,172
since 1880

Walter over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201963peak #10, 1914boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#2511,381
2024—#2711,269
2023—#2671,276
2022—#2681,278
2021—#2711,281
2020—#2721,240
2019—#2781,282
2018—#2711,313
2017—#2651,366
2016—#3021,172
2015—#3091,158
2014—#337987
2013—#342939
2012—#375805
2011—#374801
2010—#372784
2009—#383789
2008—#393764
2007—#379810
2006—#356850
2005—#374770
2004—#364767
2003—#354775
2002—#330833
2001—#335826
2000—#308949
1999—#310918
1998—#311896
1997—#2731,027
1996—#2721,035
1995#11,7836#2651,062
1994#10,5697#2501,152
1993#9,5598#2201,356
1992#8,06510#2181,421
1991—#1991,539
1990#10,1937#1911,614
1989#10,8476#1841,612
1988#3,89323#1751,610
1987#4,12220#1741,574
1986#6,61210#1561,715
1985#3,98320#1631,690
1984#6,8109#1611,689
1983#6,21210#1541,767
1982#4,02519#1471,912
1981#4,34417#1381,990
1980#4,51716#1372,009
1979#3,54122#1282,123
1978#3,38822#1311,991
1977#4,94213#1232,185
1976#3,40720#1272,101
1975#2,96924#1122,355
1974#5,01111#1042,487
1973#3,78716#1012,626
1972#2,39830#982,918
1971#2,66527#913,356
1970#2,39531#893,584
1969#2,51527#843,569
1968#2,24629#833,589
1967#2,55823#813,808
1966#2,45324#834,057
1965#2,93818#824,483
1964#3,37915#804,843
1963#2,21129#775,068
1962#1,98934#795,282
1961#1,92136#745,467
1960#2,06131#705,763
1959#1,85236#666,128
1958#1,85635#636,316
1957#2,02829#586,707
1956#1,79635#537,019
1955#1,73336#517,299
1954#1,76934#497,486
1953#1,73833#457,509
1952#1,97826#447,897
1951#1,70132#428,038
1950#1,55036#407,798
1949#1,73630#378,297
1948#1,77828#358,627
1947#1,57636#349,218
1946#1,31843#308,668
1945#1,54328#277,574
1944#1,18844#268,159
1943#1,18147#269,035
1942#1,18045#268,682
1941#1,22238#267,745
1940#1,17039#257,723
1939#98751#257,322
1938#1,15939#267,560
1937#98151#267,488
1936#1,18636#267,536
1935#91257#237,816
1934#87161#218,092
1933#90456#217,756
1932#78175#218,667
1931#80671#208,940
1930#76884#199,731
1929#698100#199,850
1928#75689#1810,651
1927#73993#1711,346
1926#74892#1711,774
1925#736100#1612,130
1924#80486#1612,696
1923#82878#1612,433
1922#79883#1512,631
1921#85774#1513,004
1920#87269#1313,294
1919#85866#1112,879
1918#79680#1113,338
1917#79276#1112,582
1916#78974#1111,760
1915#88555#1111,255
1914#97237#108,962
1913#83040#116,890
1912#79539#115,809
1911#1,37212#123,074
1910#1,42111#132,596
1909#1,05215#122,287
1908#1,8626#122,192
1907#81921#122,095
1906#1,10112#121,934
1905#1,2989#121,902
1904#1,00113#121,873
1903#96913#121,840
1902#1,02412#121,858
1901#79517#121,718
1900#1,17111#122,298
1899#1,3946#121,750
1898#1,04711#132,002
1897#76117#121,895
1896#1,1229#132,017
1895#98611#132,015
1894#71917#132,010
1893#76715#132,004
1892#95810#132,229
1891#89310#131,668
1890#79112#131,905
1889#9029#131,916
1888#1,2765#132,040
1887—#131,704
1886#69311#131,880
1885#8427#131,808
1884#8517#131,902
1883#9205#131,705
1882#7407#131,805
1881#50311#131,670
1880#6288#131,755
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Walter was already there! It came in at #13, and was given to 1,755 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1995–2014, when fewer than 1,100 boys a year got the name.

Where Walter is popular in 1963

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #52 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 202 boysAKMaine: #88 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 504 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Walter, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #55 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 277 boysNHWashington: #122 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 656 boysWAIdaho: #123 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 524 boysIDMontana: #144 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 770 boysMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Walter, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #158 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,433 boysMNIllinois: #76 for boys · 269 births · 1 in 401 boysILWisconsin: #106 for boys · 59 births · 1 in 745 boysWIMichigan: #85 for boys · 202 births · 1 in 426 boysMINew York: #61 for boys · 461 births · 1 in 379 boysNYMassachusetts: #56 for boys · 159 births · 1 in 345 boysMARhode Island: #56 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 355 boysRIOregon: #142 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 813 boysORNevada: #88 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 334 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Walter, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #161 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 922 boysSDIowa: #144 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,123 boysIAIndiana: #96 for boys · 100 births · 1 in 513 boysINOhio: #85 for boys · 226 births · 1 in 457 boysOHPennsylvania: #56 for boys · 339 births · 1 in 322 boysPANew Jersey: #49 for boys · 220 births · 1 in 281 boysNJConnecticut: #56 for boys · 83 births · 1 in 314 boysCTCalifornia: #106 for boys · 366 births · 1 in 513 boysCAUtah: #197 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,134 boysUTColorado: #103 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 498 boysCONebraska: #145 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,023 boysNEMissouri: #98 for boys · 88 births · 1 in 507 boysMOKentucky: #79 for boys · 80 births · 1 in 413 boysKYWest Virginia: #79 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 396 boysWVVirginia: #55 for boys · 165 births · 1 in 261 boysVAMaryland: #44 for boys · 133 births · 1 in 246 boysMDDelaware: #40 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 211 boysDEArizona: #88 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 361 boysAZNew Mexico: #99 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 393 boysNMKansas: #128 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 686 boysKSArkansas: #101 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 474 boysARTennessee: #66 for boys · 126 births · 1 in 303 boysTNNorth Carolina: #57 for boys · 202 births · 1 in 250 boysNCSouth Carolina: #69 for boys · 92 births · 1 in 293 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #59 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 319 boysDCOklahoma: #93 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 417 boysOKLouisiana: #91 for boys · 107 births · 1 in 370 boysLAMississippi: #45 for boys · 136 births · 1 in 190 boysMSAlabama: #62 for boys · 136 births · 1 in 258 boysALGeorgia: #58 for boys · 206 births · 1 in 228 boysGAHawaii: #72 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 293 boysHITexas: #98 for boys · 281 births · 1 in 410 boysTXFlorida: #63 for boys · 177 births · 1 in 302 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Delaware#40 · 1 in 211
  2. Maryland#44 · 1 in 246
  3. Mississippi#45 · 1 in 190
  4. New Jersey#49 · 1 in 281
  5. Alaska#52 · 1 in 202

Best ever in a state: #6 in Minnesota, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Delaware#40241 in 211
Maryland#441331 in 246
Mississippi#451361 in 190
New Jersey#492201 in 281
Alaska#52161 in 202
New Hampshire#55221 in 277
Virginia#551651 in 261
Connecticut#56831 in 314
Massachusetts#561591 in 345
Pennsylvania#563391 in 322
Rhode Island#56241 in 355
North Carolina#572021 in 250
Georgia#582061 in 228
District of Columbia#59461 in 319
New York#614611 in 379
Alabama#621361 in 258
Florida#631771 in 302
Tennessee#661261 in 303
South Carolina#69921 in 293
Hawaii#72251 in 293
Illinois#762691 in 401
Kentucky#79801 in 413
West Virginia#79431 in 396
Michigan#852021 in 426
Ohio#852261 in 457
Arizona#88461 in 361
Maine#88201 in 504
Nevada#88111 in 334
Louisiana#911071 in 370
Oklahoma#93541 in 417
Indiana#961001 in 513
Missouri#98881 in 507
Texas#982811 in 410
New Mexico#99311 in 393
Arkansas#101411 in 474
Colorado#103421 in 498
California#1063661 in 513
Wisconsin#106591 in 745
Washington#122441 in 656
Idaho#123121 in 524
Kansas#128301 in 686
Oregon#142201 in 813
Iowa#144251 in 1,123
Montana#14491 in 770
Nebraska#145151 in 1,023
Minnesota#158271 in 1,433
South Dakota#16181 in 922
Utah#197101 in 1,134
North Dakota———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Walter
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 20 spots since 2024 (#271 → #251)
  • 21 spots since 2020 (#272 → #251)
  • 58 spots since 2015 (#309 → #251)
  • Biggest jump: 37 spots in 2017 (#302 → #265)
  • Biggest drop: 38 spots in 1998 (#273 → #311)
Rise & fade · boys
34 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1914 at #10 (8,962 births)
  • Births halved by 1966, 52 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 10 for 1 yr
  • Top 10: 1 yr · 1914
  • Top 100: 93 yrs · run 1880–1972
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 55
  • Highest: 1 in 55 boys born in 1892 were named Walter (1.8%)
  • Latest: 1 in 1,237 boys born in 2025 (0.08%)
  • Its best rank, #10 in 1914, was only 1 in 73 (1.4%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 19.0% of all boys named Walter (119,809) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s18,185#13 (1888)#13
1890s19,495#12 (1897)#13
1900s19,997#12 (1900)#12
1910s89,145#10 (1914)#11
1920s119,809#13 (1920)#16
1930s80,908#19 (1930)#23
1940s83,728#25 (1940)#29
1950s72,197#40 (1950)#51
1960s45,929#70 (1960)#79
1970s25,726#89 (1970)#110
1980s17,568#137 (1980)#159
1990s12,020#191 (1990)#251
2000s8,133#308 (2000)#358
2010s10,607#265 (2017)#323
2020s7,725#251 (2025)#267

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Walter in 1963

girls
#2,211
29 births · 1 in 66,466 girls
boys
#77
5,068 births · 1 in 401 boys

Top girls' names in 1963

  1. #1Lisa56,047
  2. #2Mary41,546
  3. #3Susan33,991
  4. #4Karen32,492
  5. #5Linda27,727
  6. #6Donna25,405
  7. #7Patricia25,374
  8. #8Lori23,899
  9. #9Sandra21,621
  10. #10Cynthia21,589
  11. #2,211Walter29

Top boys' names in 1963

  1. #1Michael83,771
  2. #2John78,636
  3. #3David78,444
  4. #4James71,294
  5. #5Robert70,007
  6. #6Mark49,342
  7. #7William44,453
  8. #8Richard40,772
  9. #9Thomas35,490
  10. #10Jeffrey31,701
  11. #77Walter5,068
More about 1963

girls

1,927,507 girls got a published name in 1963; 1 in 66,466 of them was named Walter, which outranked 71.1% of the 7,661 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Walter
  1. #2,172Tonita30
  2. #2,172Towana30
  3. #2,172Wende30
  4. #2,211Walter29
  5. #2,211Adria29
  6. #2,211Arthur29
  7. #2,211Camie29
  8. #2,252Alita28
  9. #2,252Angelene28
  10. #2,252Apryl28

Tied with 40 names at #2,211; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1962
Risers
  1. ↑ 631Zena#1,323 → #692
  2. ↑ 623Zina#992 → #369
  3. ↑ 540Trisha#1,020 → #480
  4. ↑ 457Shirl#1,304 → #847
  5. ↑ 396Glynis#992 → #596
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,195Marnita#727 → #1,922
  2. ↓ 255Velvet#623 → #878
  3. ↓ 235Delphine#904 → #1,139
  4. ↓ 224Rosita#934 → #1,158
  5. ↓ 197Lindy#885 → #1,082

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

2,031,078 boys got a published name in 1963; 1 in 401 of them was named Walter, which outranked 98.3% of the 4,621 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Walter
  1. #74Billy5,241
  2. #75Bobby5,212
  3. #76Rodney5,193
  4. #77Walter5,068
  5. #78Jimmy5,043
  6. #79Tim5,016
  7. #80Darryl5,013
Biggest movers since 1962
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,551Tal#2,364 → #813
  2. ↑ 1,141Jaimie#1,962 → #821
  3. ↑ 540Stoney#1,038 → #498
  4. ↑ 364Pamela#1,311 → #947
  5. ↑ 331Giovanni#1,242 → #911
Fallers
  1. ↓ 324Olin#871 → #1,195
  2. ↓ 295Enoch#984 → #1,279
  3. ↓ 285Rand#953 → #1,238
  4. ↓ 283Vernell#996 → #1,279
  5. ↓ 269Bentley#926 → #1,195

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1963 →