Walter \wa(l)-ter\ as a boy's name is pronounced WAL-ter. It is of Old German origin, and the meaning of Walter is "commander of the army". Norman name that was brought to Britain and has been used rather steadily for the last 900 years. Cartoonist Walt Disney; poet Walt Whitman; journalist Walter Cronkite; actors Walter Brennan, Walter Matthau.
Walter has 13 variant forms: Gaultier, Gauthier, Gautier, Gualterio, Gualtiero, Valter, Valther, Walder, Wally, Walt, Walther, Wat and Watkins.
For more information, see also related names Galt, Walden and Watt.