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
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