Carter Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Carter is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Carter?
Carter is spelled C-A-R-T-E-R. The name has 6 letters.
Carter at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- One who transports goods by cart.
- Origin
- The name “Carter” is an English occupational surname referring to individuals who transported goods by cart or wagon.
- Pronunciation
- CAR-ter · 2 syllables
Carter Popularity in 2025
Rank#454
Recorded Births679
Rank#45
Recorded Births6,024
- Girls usage rose 54 places to #454 and recorded 74 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 1 place to #45 and recorded 265 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Carter Mean?
One who transports goods by cart.
Origin: The name “Carter” is an English occupational surname referring to individuals who transported goods by cart or wagon.
How Do You Pronounce Carter?
PronunciationCAR-ter
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Carter?
- History
- The surname Carter was used in medieval England to describe workers responsible for carting goods, later becoming a hereditary surname and given name.
Carter Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 679 | #454 |
| 2025 | Boys | 6,024 | #45 |
| 2024 | Girls | 605 | #508 |
| 2024 | Boys | 6,289 | #46 |
| 2023 | Girls | 594 | #510 |
| 2023 | Boys | 5,878 | #48 |
| 2022 | Girls | 553 | #550 |
| 2022 | Boys | 6,361 | #47 |
| 2021 | Girls | 622 | #501 |
| 2021 | Boys | 7,205 | #39 |
| 2020 | Girls | 587 | #514 |
| 2020 | Boys | 7,577 | #33 |
| 2019 | Girls | 611 | #514 |
| 2019 | Boys | 8,682 | #30 |
| 2018 | Girls | 655 | #478 |
| 2018 | Boys | 9,385 | #24 |
| 2017 | Girls | 602 | #520 |
| 2017 | Boys | 9,833 | #24 |
| 2016 | Girls | 703 | #457 |
| 2016 | Boys | 10,220 | #26 |
| 2015 | Girls | 581 | #539 |
| 2015 | Boys | 10,814 | #24 |
| 2014 | Girls | 355 | #790 |
| 2014 | Boys | 10,691 | #27 |
When Was Carter Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2015 · Boys
10,814 recorded births
National rank #24
2014 · Boys
10,691 recorded births
National rank #27
2016 · Boys
10,220 recorded births
National rank #26
2017 · Boys
9,833 recorded births
National rank #24
Where Carter Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WY | #7 | 16 |
| WV | #15 | 52 |
| NH | #16 | 47 |
| DE | #16 | 27 |
| AR | #18 | 80 |
| KY | #21 | 128 |
| KS | #22 | 81 |
| ID | #22 | 55 |