Walter vs Richard

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Walter

Boy #271 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"ruler of the army"

Origin: Old High German

English German Scandinavian Dutch

✓ All Clear

Boy #232 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"strong ruler, powerful leader"

Origin: Germanic

English French German Spanish Italian

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Richard' can be twisted to 'bitch'"}

Walter Rank #271

Richard Rank #232

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #271 for Walter.

Is Walter or Richard more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Walter at #271 in the United States.

What do Walter and Richard mean?

Walter means "ruler of the army" (Old High German origin). Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin).

Are Walter and Richard boy or girl names?

Walter is primarily a boy name. Richard is primarily a boy name.