Gender: Masculine
Origin: German
Meaning: “ruler of an army.”

The name is composed of the Old High German elements, wald (ruler) and hari (army). The name was used in England pre-Norman invasion in the Anglo-Saxon form of Wealdhere but was soon replaced with the Normanized Walter. It was borne by a legendary Visigothic king who appears in several Medieval poems and epics.

There have been several other notable bearers throughout history, one of the most famous being Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832).

Currently it is the 332nd most popular male name in the United States, (2010).

Other forms include:

• Wealdhere (Anglo-Saxon)
• Valter (Czech/Finnish/Italian/Hungarian/Norwegian/Russian/Slovak/Slovene/Swedish)
• Valder (Danish/Norwegian)
• Wouter (Dutch)
• Walter (English/German/Italian/Polish/Scandinavian)
• Valterri (Finnish)
• Gauthier/Gautier (French)
• Wolter (Frisian)
• Waldhar (German: archaic)
• Walther (German)
• Valtier (Hungarian)
• Gaulterio (Italian)
• Gaultero (Italian)
• Gaultiero (Italian)
• Gaulterius (Late Latin)
• Valters (Latvian)
• Valtare (Norwegian)
• Walthari (Old High German)
• Wöltje (Plattdeutsch)
• Guálter (Portuguese)
• Gualtério (Portuguese)
• Bhaltair (Scottish)
• Bhàtair (Scottish)
• Volter (Swedish)
• Gwallter (Welsh)

Diminutives include:

• Woidda (Bavarian)
• Valte (Danish)
• Wout (Dutch)
• Wally (English/German)
• Walt (English)
• Wat (English)
• Wate (Frisian)
• Watse (Frisian)
• Valkó (Hungarian)
• Valtika (Hungarian)
• Valle (Swedish)
• Wale/Wali/Walo (Swiss-German)
• Walti (Swiss-German)
• Wädi/Wädu (Swiss-German)

Feminine forms include:

• Woutera (Dutch)
• Wouterina (Dutch)
• Waltera (German)
• Gaultiera (Italian)
• Gaultierina (Italian)
• Valterina (Italian)

Source

1. http://www.behindthename.com/name/walter