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Original poster

Thoughts on Walter?

111 replies

verdas · 03/07/2026 08:06

It’s a family name and our daughter also has an older family name. I’m just worried it’s too old/strong. Other older boy name suggestions are welcome!

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ButtercupYellow26 · 11/07/2026 21:25

What a WALLY Walter is lol

SkippitySkoppity · 11/07/2026 20:52

I'm really not into the Walter/Wilfred/Percy/Cecil style of names. Maybe Walt would be ok I suppose.

Dee51121 · 10/07/2026 21:16

I see the ONS statistics show there were 127 Walters named in England and Wales last year. 334th place, joint with Andrew, Hussain and Zorawar.

I think it goes to show there's plenty of appetite for the name out there, despite what some MN posters say.

RobertaFirmino · 10/07/2026 20:43

Eudaimonia11 · 07/07/2026 07:14

Walter is cute for a baby/toddler in that cutesy old man kind of way. Not so sure about it for a 15 year old lad at high school though! Or a 21 year old trying to date.

But that’s me being old fashioned. In reality, Walter’s peers will all have “old man” names and be called things like Cedric, Percy, Rupert, Derek, Geoffrey, Albert, Cyril, Barry, Colin, Humphrey.

And the above young men will be dating young women with “old lady” names so it won’t matter!

Well quite. Walter will likely marry a woman called Ada (or a man called Cyril). They too will give their offspring 'old fashioned' names and we'll see classrooms where Gary, Jason, Claire and Louise are the pupils!

Sparklinggreen · 07/07/2026 09:11

nn of Wally is likely to be used, which is not great. does it have to be a family name?

if not how about

Vincent
Hugo
Theo
Sebastien
Marcus

Eudaimonia11 · 07/07/2026 07:14

Walter is cute for a baby/toddler in that cutesy old man kind of way. Not so sure about it for a 15 year old lad at high school though! Or a 21 year old trying to date.

But that’s me being old fashioned. In reality, Walter’s peers will all have “old man” names and be called things like Cedric, Percy, Rupert, Derek, Geoffrey, Albert, Cyril, Barry, Colin, Humphrey.

And the above young men will be dating young women with “old lady” names so it won’t matter!

topcat2014 · 07/07/2026 06:39

Walter the softy.. would be a no here

LittleRobins · 07/07/2026 06:28

I love it and it’s a family name for us too. If I were to have another son I would use it as a middle name

Petuniapet · 05/07/2026 13:41

My friend has a 7 month old Walter. I can't believe the negativity it's getting on here, I think it's a lovely name. It really suits him and she always gets positive comments on it. They call him Walt for short :)

nowayin · 05/07/2026 13:01

To me it's a really wet sounding name.

ChaToilLeam · 05/07/2026 12:45

Sorry, I immediately thought of the Beano and Walter the Softy. And then of Walter Bishop, the hallucinogen-ingesting scientist from Fringe.

I know some nice Walters here in Germany, but I don't think it's a great name for a UK child.

cheezncrackers · 05/07/2026 12:43

If you like it, use it. It's a perfectly good name that isn't very fashionable at present, but I've known a couple over the years. I think there's a lot to be said for choosing a classic name that isn't particularly popular.

Calliopespa · 05/07/2026 12:43

mathanxiety · 04/07/2026 16:38

I know a really nice Walter, but tbh I don't like the name at all. Even Denis would be nicer.

Alternatives:
Conrad
Sidney
Stanley
Robin
Matthew
Dexter
Robert
Franklin
Barnaby
Roy
Roland
Myles
Clement
Eugene
Austin

Oh I disagree: Denis has no redeeming features.

Calliopespa · 05/07/2026 12:40

SeasideDaisy · 03/07/2026 08:11

My friend had a little toddler called Walter, he is very cheeky and cute, it really suits him.. If you like it use it.

I wonder if we know the same one! I know a cheeky, cute Walter and it is lovely on him.

I can't pretend I'd name my own child that, but I like it on another child.

Beautyfadesdumbisforever · 05/07/2026 08:49

Small rural area and I know of 3 Walters all under seven.
I really didn’t like it but as you do it seems normal/ common now.

Ninetysixdegreesintheshade · 05/07/2026 07:36

SwedishEdith · 04/07/2026 22:52

Only last night, I was reminiscing about 'Nearest and Dearest' and "Have you been, Walter?" 😀

No-one under 55 will have a clue what that reference is though.

The first thing that came to my mind 🤣

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 05/07/2026 07:13

Walter Wall carpets

SwedishEdith · 04/07/2026 22:52

Only last night, I was reminiscing about 'Nearest and Dearest' and "Have you been, Walter?" 😀

No-one under 55 will have a clue what that reference is though.

MountainofWashing · 04/07/2026 22:41

I like it.
But then I don't know any of the references people have been mentioning it so just judging on the name

PurBal · 04/07/2026 22:37

Love it. Others I like: Wilfred, Albert, Frank and Norman. I know under 5s with these names.

angelcake20 · 04/07/2026 22:23

My lovely Grandad was Walter but he would have been born about 1920 (my Nan hated people calling him Wally). I’d say it’s pretty awful and I’ve never encountered one as a teacher.

EnidVance · 04/07/2026 20:35

I have a friend with a Walter and I’ve always thought of it as an odd choice.

Silverbirchleaf · 04/07/2026 16:45

Surprised myself and quite like it. Walt as a nn?

franksmama · 04/07/2026 16:44

I love it!

I have a Frank and also love the names Victor and Ernest, long live the old man names! Grin

PersephoneParlormaid · 04/07/2026 16:43

Wally. No.