Fun Facts About the Name Carter
- A newer favorite: Carter first entered the U.S. top 100 in 2004 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 22 consecutive years.
- More than 216 thousand babies named Carter: U.S. records list 216,822 babies given the name Carter from 1880 through 2025. Even 10,036 girls received the name Carter - about 1 girl for every 21 boys.
What Does the Name Carter Mean?
Carter is an English occupational name meaning "cart driver" or "one who transports goods by cart." It comes from Middle English cart(e), "cart," plus the agent suffix -er, which identifies a person who does a particular kind of work. The noun cart entered English from Old Norse kartr, and a related Old English word, cræt, also meant "cart" or "wagon." The name Carter is chiefly a surname transferred to use as a given name. A separate Irish surname, sometimes anglicized as Carter, derives from Gaelic Mac Artúir, "son of Arthur"; that is a different origin from the English occupational name.
Carter Name History & Origins
The English surname Carter comes from the occupation of carting. In medieval England, a carter drove a cart or hauled goods, and occupational surnames became hereditary in the centuries after the Norman Conquest. The surname appears in English records from the Middle Ages onward, usually as Carter, with occasional variant spellings. The surname spread with English-speaking migration to North America and elsewhere.
As a given name, Carter has been used mainly as a transferred surname, often a mother's maiden name or another family surname. Carter Braxton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Virginia in 1736 with the first name Carter. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Carter appeared as a male first name in the United States and other English-speaking countries.
How Popular is the Name Carter?
Carter recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2015. Carter entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2004.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #454 | 679 | 0.0422% |
| 2024 | #507 | 604 | 0.0374% |
| 2023 | #510 | 594 | 0.0371% |
| 2022 | #550 | 553 | 0.0337% |
| 2021 | #500 | 622 | 0.0379% |
| 2020 | #514 | 587 | 0.0363% |
| 2019 | #514 | 611 | 0.0364% |
| 2018 | #478 | 655 | 0.0385% |
| 2017 | #520 | 602 | 0.0349% |
| 2016 | #458 | 702 | 0.0396% |
| 2015 | #538 | 581 | 0.0326% |
| 2014 | #790 | 355 | 0.0199% |
| 2013 | #861 | 300 | 0.0171% |
| 2012 | #1,031 | 246 | 0.0140% |
| 2011 | #1,228 | 195 | 0.0111% |
| 2010 | #1,432 | 160 | 0.0090% |
| 2009 | #1,811 | 119 | 0.0065% |
| 2008 | #2,008 | 104 | 0.0055% |
| 2007 | #2,004 | 102 | 0.0053% |
| 2006 | #1,703 | 123 | 0.0065% |
| 2005 | #1,657 | 120 | 0.0065% |
| 2004 | #1,701 | 114 | 0.0062% |
| 2003 | #1,833 | 101 | 0.0055% |
| 2002 | #2,421 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 2001 | #2,077 | 80 | 0.0044% |
| 2000 | #1,872 | 91 | 0.0050% |
| 1999 | #1,897 | 83 | 0.0047% |
| 1998 | #2,252 | 63 | 0.0036% |
| 1997 | #2,234 | 61 | 0.0035% |
| 1996 | #2,089 | 66 | 0.0038% |
| 1995 | #2,252 | 59 | 0.0034% |
| 1994 | #2,758 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1993 | #2,730 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 1992 | #3,596 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1991 | #2,849 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 1990 | #3,375 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1989 | #4,265 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1988 | #5,366 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #3,350 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1986 | #3,904 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1985 | #3,527 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1984 | #4,768 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #6,783 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #5,585 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #5,933 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #7,518 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #6,457 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #5,567 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #4,386 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #5,583 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1974 | #4,256 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1973 | #4,916 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #5,529 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #4,842 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #5,455 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #5,510 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #6,346 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #4,881 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #5,366 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #4,306 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #5,927 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #5,096 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #6,219 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #6,190 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1956 | #4,887 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #4,112 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #4,282 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #4,176 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #4,067 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #4,373 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #4,747 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #3,630 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #4,658 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1943 | #4,784 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #3,622 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1940 | #3,930 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #3,821 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #3,539 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1927 | #3,324 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #4,516 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #5,097 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1918 | #4,930 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #45 | 6,024 | 0.3527% |
| 2024 | #45 | 6,267 | 0.3654% |
| 2023 | #48 | 5,870 | 0.3436% |
| 2022 | #47 | 6,356 | 0.3644% |
| 2021 | #39 | 7,202 | 0.4120% |
| 2020 | #33 | 7,575 | 0.4391% |
| 2019 | #30 | 8,682 | 0.4841% |
| 2018 | #24 | 9,382 | 0.5168% |
| 2017 | #24 | 9,831 | 0.5313% |
| 2016 | #26 | 10,218 | 0.5386% |
| 2015 | #24 | 10,814 | 0.5643% |
| 2014 | #27 | 10,690 | 0.5566% |
| 2013 | #33 | 9,589 | 0.5070% |
| 2012 | #36 | 9,272 | 0.4889% |
| 2011 | #41 | 8,608 | 0.4533% |
| 2010 | #48 | 8,164 | 0.4256% |
| 2009 | #50 | 8,173 | 0.4121% |
| 2008 | #65 | 7,069 | 0.3465% |
| 2007 | #80 | 6,101 | 0.2940% |
| 2006 | #75 | 6,433 | 0.3130% |
| 2005 | #77 | 5,899 | 0.2954% |
| 2004 | #89 | 5,009 | 0.2524% |
| 2003 | #102 | 4,171 | 0.2112% |
| 2002 | #108 | 3,480 | 0.1792% |
| 2001 | #111 | 3,435 | 0.1768% |
| 2000 | #152 | 2,550 | 0.1298% |
| 1999 | #179 | 1,944 | 0.1012% |
| 1998 | #189 | 1,800 | 0.0942% |
| 1997 | #204 | 1,540 | 0.0817% |
| 1996 | #243 | 1,216 | 0.0642% |
| 1995 | #286 | 919 | 0.0483% |
| 1994 | #421 | 544 | 0.0282% |
| 1993 | #419 | 550 | 0.0280% |
| 1992 | #450 | 487 | 0.0244% |
| 1991 | #498 | 391 | 0.0194% |
| 1990 | #549 | 334 | 0.0163% |
| 1989 | #565 | 294 | 0.0147% |
| 1988 | #569 | 265 | 0.0138% |
| 1987 | #625 | 213 | 0.0114% |
| 1986 | #665 | 182 | 0.0099% |
| 1985 | #661 | 177 | 0.0096% |
| 1984 | #744 | 137 | 0.0076% |
| 1983 | #810 | 117 | 0.0065% |
| 1982 | #810 | 119 | 0.0066% |
| 1981 | #973 | 86 | 0.0048% |
| 1980 | #924 | 93 | 0.0052% |
| 1979 | #1,108 | 65 | 0.0038% |
| 1978 | #1,034 | 71 | 0.0043% |
| 1977 | #773 | 121 | 0.0074% |
| 1976 | #651 | 158 | 0.0101% |
| 1975 | #637 | 162 | 0.0104% |
| 1974 | #686 | 142 | 0.0090% |
| 1973 | #700 | 131 | 0.0084% |
| 1972 | #617 | 163 | 0.0101% |
| 1971 | #600 | 191 | 0.0108% |
| 1970 | #655 | 156 | 0.0084% |
| 1969 | #646 | 150 | 0.0084% |
| 1968 | #675 | 124 | 0.0071% |
| 1967 | #634 | 140 | 0.0080% |
| 1966 | #656 | 127 | 0.0071% |
| 1965 | #698 | 113 | 0.0061% |
| 1964 | #669 | 132 | 0.0066% |
| 1963 | #621 | 158 | 0.0078% |
| 1962 | #680 | 130 | 0.0063% |
| 1961 | #674 | 132 | 0.0062% |
| 1960 | #664 | 139 | 0.0065% |
| 1959 | #666 | 132 | 0.0062% |
| 1958 | #601 | 165 | 0.0078% |
| 1957 | #650 | 140 | 0.0065% |
| 1956 | #574 | 176 | 0.0083% |
| 1955 | #607 | 149 | 0.0072% |
| 1954 | #528 | 191 | 0.0094% |
| 1953 | #557 | 161 | 0.0082% |
| 1952 | #559 | 156 | 0.0080% |
| 1951 | #523 | 172 | 0.0091% |
| 1950 | #515 | 170 | 0.0095% |
| 1949 | #495 | 178 | 0.0100% |
| 1948 | #543 | 150 | 0.0085% |
| 1947 | #502 | 178 | 0.0097% |
| 1946 | #524 | 149 | 0.0092% |
| 1945 | #537 | 124 | 0.0092% |
| 1944 | #548 | 122 | 0.0090% |
| 1943 | #553 | 130 | 0.0091% |
| 1942 | #588 | 112 | 0.0081% |
| 1941 | #569 | 109 | 0.0089% |
| 1940 | #635 | 88 | 0.0076% |
| 1939 | #675 | 77 | 0.0070% |
| 1938 | #568 | 106 | 0.0096% |
| 1937 | #580 | 99 | 0.0093% |
| 1936 | #582 | 98 | 0.0094% |
| 1935 | #576 | 101 | 0.0097% |
| 1934 | #597 | 97 | 0.0094% |
| 1933 | #670 | 77 | 0.0078% |
| 1932 | #766 | 68 | 0.0065% |
| 1931 | #678 | 78 | 0.0075% |
| 1930 | #824 | 62 | 0.0056% |
| 1929 | #754 | 71 | 0.0066% |
| 1928 | #724 | 78 | 0.0070% |
| 1927 | #702 | 85 | 0.0075% |
| 1926 | #671 | 89 | 0.0080% |
| 1925 | #679 | 89 | 0.0080% |
| 1924 | #604 | 112 | 0.0099% |
| 1923 | #712 | 83 | 0.0076% |
| 1922 | #666 | 93 | 0.0085% |
| 1921 | #723 | 83 | 0.0075% |
| 1920 | #636 | 98 | 0.0092% |
| 1919 | #580 | 107 | 0.0109% |
| 1918 | #628 | 95 | 0.0094% |
| 1917 | #620 | 91 | 0.0098% |
| 1916 | #641 | 83 | 0.0093% |
| 1915 | #658 | 78 | 0.0092% |
| 1914 | #509 | 92 | 0.0141% |
| 1913 | #780 | 37 | 0.0072% |
| 1912 | #612 | 45 | 0.0105% |
| 1911 | #597 | 26 | 0.0115% |
| 1910 | #557 | 26 | 0.0134% |
| 1909 | #559 | 22 | 0.0134% |
| 1908 | #500 | 25 | 0.0162% |
| 1907 | #595 | 18 | 0.0123% |
| 1906 | #620 | 15 | 0.0113% |
| 1905 | #595 | 16 | 0.0121% |
| 1904 | #418 | 25 | 0.0195% |
| 1903 | #415 | 23 | 0.0193% |
| 1902 | #696 | 11 | 0.0090% |
| 1901 | #569 | 13 | 0.0122% |
| 1900 | #403 | 31 | 0.0206% |
| 1899 | #524 | 14 | 0.0132% |
| 1898 | #580 | 14 | 0.0114% |
| 1897 | #501 | 16 | 0.0142% |
| 1896 | #602 | 13 | 0.0109% |
| 1895 | #746 | 9 | 0.0077% |
| 1894 | #504 | 16 | 0.0138% |
| 1893 | #545 | 13 | 0.0116% |
| 1892 | #464 | 18 | 0.0147% |
| 1891 | #500 | 13 | 0.0128% |
| 1890 | #757 | 8 | 0.0072% |
| 1889 | #591 | 11 | 0.0099% |
| 1888 | #507 | 15 | 0.0124% |
| 1887 | #495 | 13 | 0.0128% |
| 1886 | #474 | 15 | 0.0135% |
| 1885 | #613 | 10 | 0.0093% |
| 1884 | #526 | 13 | 0.0114% |
| 1883 | #561 | 11 | 0.0105% |
| 1881 | #506 | 12 | 0.0119% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Carter
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Carter Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Carter's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Carter's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.