Ok, so if baby is boy, he will probably be [name]Walter[/name] [name]Michael[/name], and called [name]Walt[/name] 99% of the time. My question is–do you pronounce [name]Walt[/name] with a soft “t” sound or hard “t” sound? We kind of have the same issue with my son [name]Vincent[/name], I have to make sure and use a hard “t” when saying his whole name or people misunderstand. [name]Do[/name] you think the same thing will happen with [name]Walt[/name]?
My dad is a [name]Walter[/name] and goes by [name]Walt[/name] 50% of the time and being from the South he gets the soft T but the “[name]Wal[/name]” is so distinctive that no one ever doesn’t understand his name. I do think he wishes people just said [name]Walter[/name] because it doesnt sound like his name.
I’m not quite sure what you mean, what exactly doesn’t sound like his name?
I pronounce my S’s and T’s very hard, so when I say [name]Walt[/name], it comes out as [name]WalT[/name], if that makes any sense. I don’t think people will misunderstand though, and confuse [name]Walt[/name] for [name]Wall[/name], no matter what the T sounds like at the end.
Another Southerner, so it’s a soft t for me but I don’t think it’s a problem.
On a side note, I saw an interview with some old country singer talking about the ancient song “Hello Walls.” He said his mom didn’t understand that the singer wasn’t talking directly to a bunch of men; she thought it was “Hello, [name]Walt[/name],” second verse “Hello, [name]Wendell[/name] (window).”
Anyone know any Walters, has this ever been as issue for them?
I’m not speaking from experience, as I’ve only known two Walters and they both went by their full name. I’m just not seeing people getting confused and thinking he’s named [name]Wall[/name] though - it seems unlikely 
I think [name]Walter[/name] and [name]Vincent[/name] are really nice together! My only question… you and/or the immediate family or close friends were not huge LOST fans were you? There was a pretty key character named [name]Walt[/name] who had a dog named [name]Vincent[/name]. Not a big deal AT ALL unless you are known to be a giant fan 
I’ve known a couple of Walts and I don’t think this has been a problem…but I’m in the [name]North[/name]. For what it’s worth, I try to pronounce my T’s distinctly and would say [name]Walt[/name], with a hard T.
Good luck!
I am a Southerner and went to high school with a young [name]Walter[/name]. He actually always went by [name]Walter[/name], though it did have a softer T sound in the middle. If I were to introduce someone, and their name came last in the sentence (“This is [name]Walt[/name]”) I would probably say the T a bit harder. But if it were said in a sentence with a soft T, I don’t think I’d get confused about what someone was saying…
I love [name]Walt[/name]! I think hard and soft t in [name]Walt[/name] sound the same.
Someone else mentioned the LOST connection to me on here before–I’ve never seen it, neither has my husband. 
My dad and brother watched it all, though, I wonder if they will say anything about it!
My only question… you and/or the immediate family or close friends were not huge LOST fans were you? There was a pretty key character named Walt who had a dog named Vincent. Not a big deal AT ALL unless you are known to be a giant fan.
[name]Walt[/name]'s father was also named [name]Michael[/name], and he was known for screaming “Waaaaaaalt!”
(slightly spoilerish)
Ooh, nice catch. I missed [name]Vincent[/name]'s middle name!
ETA: Walter’s potential middle name. Apparently I can’t read.
[name]Walter[/name] [name]Michael[/name] is fantastic! I am from the [name]North[/name] (I assume we’re talking US here), and I use the soft t sound, but I agree with pps that the “[name]Wal[/name]” sound is distinguished enough that people will know what he’s saying. My first thought was already mentioned by several pps: “No one will think his name is [name]Wall[/name], so it will be clear enough.” I think you might be overthinking it. It’s a perfect name. [name]Don[/name]'t question it!
And I love [name]Walter[/name] and [name]Vincent[/name] together! (I also use a soft t in [name]Vincent[/name], but again, I can’t imagine what it would be mistaken for if all someone heard was “Vincen”.)
[name]Walter[/name] [name]Michael[/name] is a lovely name, and [name]Walter[/name] is too rarely seen [name]IMO[/name]- glad you’re going to use it! I’m from [name]Ontario[/name], [name]Canada[/name] and would say [name]Walt[/name] with a soft T.
I don’t know any Walters or Walts but I’ve experienced something similar with my own name [name]Lauren[/name]. It seems I (and everyone else) say it with a soft N because when I introduce myself to new people a lot of them think I said [name]Laura[/name], or even [name]Lorne[/name] or [name]Lorna[/name]. I now really stress the N ("[name]LaurEN[/name]") when I first meet someone and they get it right. And yes they say it normally after the first time 
So I have a [name]Walter[/name] who mostly goes by [name]Walt[/name]. When I introduce him to people he won’t see again (like when someone in the grocery store asks his name) – I just introduce him as [name]Walter[/name], because, yes, sometimes people think I’m saying some other name when I say [name]Walt[/name]. There are so many new and unique names, that I think they think they’re mishearing when I say something so traditional. It may also be that I live in [name]New[/name] [name]England[/name] and am from the Midwest, and I think half the time people don’t know what I’m saying.
On another note, I have noticed that about half of the people who call him [name]Walter[/name] call him [name]WalTer[/name] and about half call him [name]WalDer[/name]. This may also be a regional thing, as it seems like the people in Ohio are more likely to use a D, though it isn’t exclusive.
These silly little things we don’t think of when we name out kids!
[name]Katie[/name]
Hard T. In my accent it comes out like “wal-tah” though.
I know the feeling. I’m [name]Kate[/name] and if I don’t say the “t” really hard at the end, sometimes people think my name is “[name]Kay[/name].” This will be a problem for a [name]Walt[/name] maybe once in a blue moon when he’s somewhere really loud.
I know two [name]Walter[/name]'s. [name]One[/name] is pronounced with a very hard t. [name]WalTer[/name]. almost with a pause saying the t slowly. The other is sfter but not like a d sound. just quicker maybe. The t at the end of just [name]Walt[/name] is pretty prominent and audible.
Thanks! I think I am over-thinking it. Naming a person is such a huge responsibility! But I think [name]Walter[/name] [name]Michael[/name] is definitely the winner. Although according to [name]Vinny[/name], it’s a sister in my tummy! We’ll see if we get our [name]Walt[/name]! Thanks for all the helpful responses, everyone.