If you came of age with Jason and Michael, Brian and Chris, maybe this choice strikes you as hopelessly clunky and out-of-date. But spend a few minutes on the playground with pint-sized tots called Henry and Oscar, Leo and George and this one starts to sound like part of the next wave in retro cool.
Thanks to Another for suggesting our Name of the Day: Walter.
Make no mistake – Walter was once as fashion-forward as it gets, spending 1880 to 1931 in the Top 20s. He remained a Top 100 pick until 1972.
You’ll have no trouble thinking of notable 20th century bearers of the name – Cronkite, Disney, Payton, Matthau – but he’s appeared steadily in the historical record since at least the 1200s. To complete a list of famous Walters, you’ll need to add in Raleigh, Scott and Burley, as well as a handful of medieval saints and theologians. Fictional Walters include the day-dreaming Mitty, but also one of Anne of Green Gables’ sons and television’s Radar O’Reilly of M.A.S.H. (Though the last is rarely referred to by his given name.)
Maybe Walter was so often used that hibernation was inevitable. While he still ranks a respectable #378, Walter has fallen almost every year since 1944. In recent decades, similar surname choices like Walker or Walton probably seemed better bets for a modern child.
Walter is one of those harsh Germanic names – it comes from the elements waltan and heri to mean ruler of the army. In Old High German, he’d have probably been Walthere or Waltheri. In French, he became the interesting Gauthier. The Normans brought a version of this name to England, where he met up with existing Old English choices and eventually became Walter. Many a name followed a similar trajectory, and most of those have been out of favor in recent times.
But if women called Jennifer are now choosing throwback appellations for their daughters like Hazel and Esther, is it any wonder that a guy called Rainn would pick Walter for his son? Starbaby Walter Mckenzie Wilson, son of The Office‘s Rainn Wilson and his wife Holiday Reinhorn, lends some freshness and snap to the name. It’s also the middle name actress Melissa Joan Hart chose for her son Mason.
We’ve covered the similar Vladimir; other related international choices include the Scottish Bhaltair, Scandinavian Valter, Czech Waltr, Italian Gualtiero and Spanish Gutierro. While some parents would dare choose those interesting variants, it’s a very different vibe.
Walter can be seen as the elderly fellow waiting to hit the early bird buffet, but we can also see Walter as appealingly cocktail cool – think other-named figures like Ewan McGregor’s character in Down With Love, or Clark Kent. Both could be Walter. (In fact, Ewan McGregor’s character was Catcher – a sound not so far removed.)
He’s also undeniably brainy. From the 12th century monk and philosopher Saint Walter of Pontoise to 20th century journalist Walter Cronkite, we expect bearers of the name to be thoughtful, smart and reliable.
It’s an appealing combo, and if Max and Oliver, Gus and Henry are too common in your neck of the woods, why not consider this retro pick?
Wow! Talk about regional differences, even though our ‘regions” were right next to each other! (Central NJ here!, literally, look at where the parkway & turnpike cross and that’s my old stomping grounds). I didn’t know a Dennis til college (Wow, what a sweetie) There’s another name that’s got a soft spot in my heart!
I grew up in New York City. My elementary school had Robert, Howard, Dennis, Matt, and Richie – but I didn’t meet a Wally until JHS, and he was a Wallace. I’ve known three Walters up and down the East coast (besides my great-uncle) and not a one of them has been a Wally. All three were Walts. My uncle was only Walter, no nickname. I don’t know what to tell you.
Really, Another? Where are you? Growing up in NJ, it was one of the four most common guys names I heard: James/Jimmy, Walter/Wally, Richard/Ritchie & Stephen/Steven/Steve. Toss in a few Roberts, a Matthew or two and one Douglas and you’ve got the entire male part of my Grammar school classes ! I know Wally can also be for Wallace but Wallace is a really musty old guy name, even to me. Maybe it’s just my age showing, though (I am 41 now.. that’s weird to say, but true!) 😀
I never even thought of Wally as a nickname for Walter. Walt is the only nickname I thought was available. Wally has always been a nickname for Wallace in my world. I guess you learn something new every day. Any Walter I had would be a Walt – never a Wally.
Love Walter, hate Walt or Wally though. I’d consider it as a first name if it didn’t rhyme with my last name… I kind of like it in the middle though, because then you get the cool-factor without potential for the nicknames.
Awww Walter. I love him, clunky and geeky though he undeniably is! I was going to suggest him for name of the day but you beat me to it. Henry, Oscar, George, Walter, Arthur – I love them all! When push comes to shuve though would I choose him? Probably not, he might be just a little to geeky to pull off and the possibility of him being a Wally scares me, nope I’m sticking with Henry, George and Arthur 🙂
Corinne, I found a book “Wally the Whale (who loved Balloons)” By Yuichi Watanabe (which does sound vaguely familiar for some reason) and “Wally Whale: Wally’s Wonderful Wish” by Judith E. Craig as well as a lot of fishing gear and assorted weirdnes (Google Wally Whale” and check it out for yourself. What weirdness! I had another thought on Wally.. as in Wall-E, Disney robot? He does nothing for me (and I’m not really inclined to even get it on DVD like other movies I won’t pay to see in the theatre but will buy to watch at home, Wall-E kind of falls flat for me). But he might work for somone else! I mean, little robots on the nursery walls? How cute is that!?
You mentioned Henry, Oscar, Leo, and George at the beginning. To me, Henry and Leo are “easy” old names. You can see them now, they’re not too out there. Oscar and George are the next step towards “out there”. To me Walter is married to Erma or Gertrude. It’s old and ancient and unbelievably uncool.
Walt is better than Wally, but I went to school with a Walter who went by Alt. I MUCH prefer Alt. To me it’s cool and funky and, well, alternative 😉
Was there ever something called Wally the Whale? Every time I think “Wally” it’s followed by “the Whale”? Anyone?
Walter has one huge drawback for me: Wally potential. Wally is comical, not cool. Not to mention the two Walters I know are geeky in the extreme. Walter might sneak in as a middle somewhere, just because he has no decent nicknames for me doesn’t mean I can’t like the snappy sound of this stuffy gent, it just means I cannot abide him up front. Now, Vladimir… he’s more my type. 😉
I can easily picture Walter on a little one, but not on mine. On anyone else’s boy, he’d be a breath of fresh air and wold bring a smile to my face. Just don’t call him Wally., please! Walt would be better (despite Walt Disney).
I love how you spun this one. It was my great-uncle’s name – he died last year in his mid 90s. But my grandfather was Benjamin – to me that was an old-fashioned name, too – and yet I know three Bens born in the last 5 years. I figure if Ben can make a comeback, so can Walter. And I really like this one. Thanks for looking into it!