Walter

Walter Origin and Meaning

The name Walter is a girl's name.

Walter as a feminine name represents an uncommon gender-crossing usage of a traditionally masculine name. Of Germanic origin, Walter derives from the elements 'wald' meaning 'rule' or 'power' and 'hari' meaning 'army', thus translating to 'powerful warrior' or 'army ruler'. While historically and predominantly used for boys, some parents choose Walter for girls as part of the trend toward gender-neutral naming or to honor a family member. As a feminine name, Walter carries a distinctive, strong quality that stands out in contrast to more conventional feminine names. Though extremely rare for girls (with most Walters being male), this usage reflects contemporary willingness to challenge traditional gender-based naming conventions. When used for girls, Walter often elicits surprise and may be paired with more traditionally feminine middle names.