Walter (name)


Walter is a German and English masculine given name of Germanic origin, composed of the elements meaning "power" or "ruler", and "army".

History

The name Walter is of Germanic origin composed of the elements walt- "power", "ruler", and hari "army".
The name is first recorded in the 6th century, with Walthari son of Wacho, who was king of the Lombards during 539–546. Old Germanic forms are recorded as Walthari, Waltari, Walthar, Waltar, Waltere, Waldheri, Waldhere, Waltheri, Walthere, Walther, Walter, Waldher, and Valter. The Old English equivalent is Wealdhere, Old Norse has Valðar and Valdarr. It was later used in modern English as Walter.
The name was popularized by the epic German hero Walther von Aquitaine, and later from the name of the writer Walther von der Vogelweide.
The name entered the French language as Gauthier, Spanish as Gutierre, Portuguese as Gualter and Italian as Gualtiero. The modern Dutch form of the name is Wouter. The German name has also been adopted in a number of languages in the spelling Valter.

Geographical distribution

Around 2014, the name was most common in Germany, where around 1 in 643 people carried it. 22 percent of them live in Baden-Württemberg, 16 percent in Bavaria, and 15 percent in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Given name

Middle ages

Modern era

Fictional and legendary characters

  • Walter of Aquitaine, a Visigoth king in Germanic heroic legend
  • Walter, in the 2005 American science fiction adventure Zathura: A Space Adventure
  • Walter, an android in the 2017 Ridley Scott film Alien: Covenant
  • Walter (Muppet), a Muppet character introduced in the 2011 film The Muppets
  • Walter, a title character of Walter and Tandoori, a children's television series
  • Walter, a puppet of ventriloquist Jeff Dunham
  • Walter the Softy, arch-enemy of Dennis the Menace from The Beano comic since 1953
  • Dr. Walter Bishop (Fringe), a scientist on the 2008–2013 TV series Fringe
  • Walter Blythe, in the Anne of Green Gables novels Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside
  • Walter Donovan, the main antagonist of the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
  • Walter C. Dornez, from the anime/manga series Hellsing
  • Walter Hobbs, from the 2003 film Elf
  • Dr. Walter Jenning, in the 1986 American science fiction movie Howard the Duck
  • Walter E. Kurtz, the main antagonist of the 1979 film Apocalypse Now
  • Walter Joseph Kovacs, the secret identity of the vigilante Rorschach in Watchmen since 1968
  • Walter Longmire, the title character in Craig Johnson's A Longmire Mystery Series and main protagonist of A&E and Netflix's LONGMIRE television series
  • Walter Mabry, a villain in Now You See Me 2, played by Daniel Radcliffe
  • Walter Mitty, the title character in James Thurber's 1939 short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
  • Walter Newell, secret identity of Stingray, a Marvel Comics character since 1967
  • Walter Nichols, in the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh
  • Corporal Walter "Radar" O’Reilly, from the 1968–1986 M*A*S*H franchise
  • Walter Peck, in the 1984 American supernatural comedy movie Ghostbusters
  • Walter Powell, in the American sitcom television series Charles in Charge
  • Walter Raccoon, the father of Pinch and Scootch Raccoon and the husband of Wanda Raccoon in "PB&J Otter"
  • Walter Smith, in the Nintendo video game Ninja Gaiden
  • Walter Sobchak, in the 1998 film The Big Lebowski
  • Walter Vetrivel, the title character of the 1993 Indian film Walter Vetrivel
  • Walter White, the protagonist of the 2008–2013 TV series Breaking Bad
  • Walter, in ''Vencer la culpa''

Surname

Medieval

Early modern

Modern