Leonard vs Walter
Leonard and Waltercompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1958, Leonard was ranked #100 and Walter #97 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Leonard was ranked #173 and Walter #108 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Leonard was ranked #244 and Walter #344 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leonard was ranked #272 and Walter #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leonard was ranked #352 and Walter #478 among boys in Scotland.
Leonard and Walter over time
Leonard and Walter appear together in 3 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Leonard held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Walter in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leonard and Walter changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #272 and #829.
- Longest-running competitions
Leonard and Walter were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 51 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #272 and #829.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Leonard #217 in 2019, Walter #271 in 2019.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1964–2025
Leonard held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Walter in 9.
Highest recorded here: Leonard #108 in 1975, Walter #105 in 1968.
The order changed in 2021: Leonard moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #556 and #433; by 2021 that had become #336 and #498.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leonard #272, Walter #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leonard held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Walter in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leonard #217 in 2019, Walter #271 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leonard #244, Walter #344.
Norway · Boys20 shared years, 1954–2025
Leonard held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Walter in 6.
Highest recorded here: Leonard #144 in 2012, Walter #108 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leonard #173, Walter #108.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Leonard | Walter |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #173 (2025) | Norway · Boys #108 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Leonard and Walter both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Leonard
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #73 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1961
Highest recorded position: #73 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1961).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #173 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Walter
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #178 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys