Carter
Carter is a boys' name of English origin meaning “transporter of goods by cart.” It ranked #45 in the United States in 2025. An English occupational surname turned given name.
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how do you pronounce Carter?
KAR-ter
where does the name Carter come from?
An English occupational surname for someone who transported goods by cart, from the Old Norse kartr by way of Anglo-Norman. Carting was ordinary, essential work, which is why the surname is among the commonest occupational names in England.
It rose sharply in the United States in the 2000s, influenced by celebrity culture and the surname-as-first-name trend.
how popular is this name?
Carter has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 142 years since 1881, and fell outside it for 3. It peaked at #24 in 2015, and ranked #45 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #45 |
| 2024 | #46 |
| 2023 | #48 |
| 2022 | #47 |
| 2021 | #39 |
| 2020 | #33 |
| 2019 | #30 |
| 2018 | #24 |
| 2017 | #24 |
| 2016 | #26 |
| 2015 | #24 |
| 2010 | #48 |
| 2000 | #152 |
| 1990 | #549 |
| 1980 | #924 |
| 1970 | #655 |
| 1960 | #665 |
| 1950 | #514 |
| 1940 | #635 |
| 1930 | #824 |
| 1920 | #635 |
| 1910 | #556 |
| 1900 | #402 |
| 1890 | #739 |
| 1881 | #503 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Carter fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Carter
Howard Carter opened Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, and Jimmy Carter carried the name to the American presidency and then to a Nobel Peace Prize. Its conversion to a given name is recent and overwhelmingly American, climbing into the top thirty for boys through the 2010s alongside Hudson, Parker and the other occupational surnames.
who are famous people named Carter?
- Carter G. Woodson
- Carter Reynolds
- Nick Carter
what are the nicknames and variants of Carter?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Carter?
what names go well with Carter?
Sibling names that share Carter's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Carter
What does the name Carter mean?
Carter means “transporter of goods by cart”.
What is the origin of the name Carter?
Carter comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Karter and Cartier.
How popular is the name Carter?
Carter ranked #45 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2015, at #24, and it has spent 142 years in the top 1,000 since 1881.
Is Carter a boy or girl name?
Carter is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Carter?
Carter is pronounced KAR-ter, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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