Carter Overview
Transporter of goods by cart
Boy, Gender-neutral
English
Derived from an English surname meaning “one who uses a cart”
Christianity
/ˈkɑrtər/
Carter has been highly popular in recent years, consistently ranking in the top 100 names for boys in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. It ranked 48th in the USA in 2023.
2 syllables
6 letters
11 (Intuitive, Idealistic, Spiritual)
Modern, Cool, Edgy, Occupational, Cute
Strong, reliable, practical, sociable
Carter Variations in Different Cultures
Karter, Carta, Cartel, Cartwright, Carver, Cartman
Carr, Cart, Carty, Art, Arty, Carti, Cartman, Cee, Caz, Cartier, Carebear, Cartwheel, Carto
Carty, Cart, CJ, Car, Cartman, Cartwheel, Carterino, Carto
What Is the Meaning of Carter?
Carter means “driver of a cart” or “transporter of goods by cart.” People named Carter are often seen as reliable, hardworking, and down-to-earth.
What Is the Origin of The Name Carter?
The name Carter has English origins and is derived from an occupational surname used for someone who transported goods by cart or wagon.
It can be traced back to the Old English word “caret,” which means “cart,” and the Old French word “caretier,” which means “carrier.”
The name was established in Ireland and Scotland through the British and Scottish settlers and was later brought to America, where it continued to be used widely.
Carter Name Popularity
Popularity Chart of the Name Carter in the U.S. over the Years
 United States | #392021 | #472022 | #482023 |
| Top 3 Rankings | #242015 | #242017 | #242018 |
Annual Statistics Breakdown for Carter
| Year | Name Ranking | Number of Births | Birth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 48 (-1 from 2022) | 5847 (-502 from 2022) | 0.31931 |
| 2022 | 47 (-8 from 2021) | 6349 (-850 from 2021) | 0.33898 |
| 2021 | 39 (-6 from 2020) | 7199 (-371 from 2020) | 0.38423 |
| 2020 | 33 (-3 from 2019) | 7570 (-1107 from 2019) | 0.40926 |
| 2019 | 30 (-6 from 2018) | 8677 (-702 from 2018) | 0.45151 |
| 2018 | 24 No change from 2017 | 9379 (-448 from 2017) | 0.48252 |
| 2017 | 24 (+2 from 2016) | 9827 (-389 from 2016) | 0.49653 |
| 2016 | 26 (-2 from 2015) | 10216 (-595 from 2015) | 0.50434 |
| 2015 | 24 (+3 from 2014) | 10811 (+121 from 2014) | 0.52880 |
| 2014 | 27 (+7 from 2013) | 10690 (+1105 from 2013) | 0.52166 |
| 2013 | 34 (+2 from 2012) | 9585 (+315 from 2012) | 0.47434 |
| 2012 | 36 (+5 from 2011) | 9270 (+662 from 2011) | 0.45683 |
| 2011 | 41 (+7 from 2010) | 8608 (+444 from 2010) | 0.42374 |
| 2010 | 48 (+2 from 2009) | 8164 (-9 from 2009) | 0.39739 |
| 2009 | 50 (+15 from 2008) | 8173 (+1105 from 2008) | 0.38535 |
| 2008 | 65 (+15 from 2007) | 7068 (+967 from 2007) | 0.32416 |
| 2007 | 80 (-5 from 2006) | 6101 (-332 from 2006) | 0.27543 |
| 2006 | 75 (+2 from 2005) | 6433 (+534 from 2005) | 0.29343 |
| 2005 | 77 (+12 from 2004) | 5899 (+890 from 2004) | 0.27729 |
| 2004 | 89 (+13 from 2003) | 5009 (+838 from 2003) | 0.23702 |
| 2003 | 102 (+6 from 2002) | 4171 (+691 from 2002) | 0.19851 |
| 2002 | 108 (+3 from 2001) | 3480 (+45 from 2001) | 0.16839 |
| 2001 | 111 (+41 from 2000) | 3435 (+885 from 2000) | 0.16607 |
| 2000 | 152 (+27 from 1999) | 2550 (+607 from 1999) | 0.12211 |
| 1999 | 179 (+10 from 1998) | 1943 (+143 from 1998) | 0.09529 |
| 1998 | 189 (+15 from 1997) | 1800 (+260 from 1997) | 0.08877 |
| 1997 | 204 (+39 from 1996) | 1540 (+324 from 1996) | 0.07709 |
| 1996 | 243 (+43 from 1995) | 1216 (+297 from 1995) | 0.06069 |
| 1995 | 286 (+135 from 1994) | 919 (+375 from 1994) | 0.04569 |
| 1994 | 421 (-2 from 1993) | 544 (-6 from 1993) | 0.02669 |
| 1993 | 419 (+31 from 1992) | 550 (+63 from 1992) | 0.02663 |
| 1992 | 450 (+48 from 1991) | 487 (+96 from 1991) | 0.02320 |
| 1991 | 498 (+51 from 1990) | 391 (+57 from 1990) | 0.01845 |
| 1990 | 549 (+16 from 1989) | 334 (+40 from 1989) | 0.01552 |
| 1989 | 565 (+4 from 1988) | 294 (+29 from 1988) | 0.01403 |
| 1988 | 569 (+58 from 1987) | 265 (+53 from 1987) | 0.01323 |
| 1987 | 627 (+38 from 1986) | 212 (+30 from 1986) | 0.01087 |
| 1986 | 665 (-4 from 1985) | 182 (+5 from 1985) | 0.00947 |
| 1985 | 661 (+81 from 1984) | 177 (+40 from 1984) | 0.00920 |
| 1984 | 742 (+67 from 1983) | 137 (+20 from 1983) | 0.00730 |
| 1983 | 809 No change from 1982 | 117 (-2 from 1982) | 0.00628 |
| 1982 | 809 (+156 from 1981) | 119 (+32 from 1981) | 0.00631 |
| 1981 | 965 (-41 from 1980) | 87 (-6 from 1980) | 0.00467 |
| 1980 | 924 (+184 from 1979) | 93 (+28 from 1979) | 0.00501 |
| 1979 | 1108 (-74 from 1978) | 65 (-6 from 1978) | 0.00363 |
| 1978 | 1034 (-261 from 1977) | 71 (-50 from 1977) | 0.00416 |
| 1977 | 773 (-122 from 1976) | 121 (-37 from 1976) | 0.00708 |
| 1976 | 651 (-16 from 1975) | 158 (-4 from 1975) | 0.00968 |
| 1975 | 635 (+51 from 1974) | 162 (+20 from 1974) | 0.00999 |
| 1974 | 686 (+14 from 1973) | 142 (+11 from 1973) | 0.00871 |
| 1973 | 700 (-83 from 1972) | 131 (-32 from 1972) | 0.00812 |
| 1972 | 617 (-17 from 1971) | 163 (-28 from 1971) | 0.00974 |
| 1971 | 600 (+55 from 1970) | 191 (+35 from 1970) | 0.01051 |
| 1970 | 655 (-9 from 1969) | 156 (+6 from 1969) | 0.00819 |
| 1969 | 646 (+29 from 1968) | 150 (+26 from 1968) | 0.00820 |
| 1968 | 675 (-41 from 1967) | 124 (-16 from 1967) | 0.00698 |
| 1967 | 634 (+22 from 1966) | 140 (+13 from 1966) | 0.00787 |
| 1966 | 656 (+41 from 1965) | 127 (+14 from 1965) | 0.00699 |
| 1965 | 697 (-28 from 1964) | 113 (-19 from 1964) | 0.00596 |
| 1964 | 669 (-49 from 1963) | 132 (-26 from 1963) | 0.00651 |
| 1963 | 620 (+58 from 1962) | 158 (+28 from 1962) | 0.00765 |
| 1962 | 678 (-4 from 1961) | 130 (-2 from 1961) | 0.00619 |
| 1961 | 674 (-10 from 1960) | 132 (-7 from 1960) | 0.00612 |
| 1960 | 664 (-2 from 1959) | 139 (+6 from 1959) | 0.00642 |
| 1959 | 662 (-60 from 1958) | 133 (-31 from 1958) | 0.00614 |
| 1958 | 602 (+48 from 1957) | 164 (+24 from 1957) | 0.00761 |
| 1957 | 650 (-77 from 1956) | 140 (-36 from 1956) | 0.00640 |
| 1956 | 573 (+33 from 1955) | 176 (+27 from 1955) | 0.00820 |
| 1955 | 606 (-78 from 1954) | 149 (-42 from 1954) | 0.00713 |
| 1954 | 528 (+29 from 1953) | 191 (+30 from 1953) | 0.00923 |
| 1953 | 557 (+2 from 1952) | 161 (+5 from 1952) | 0.00804 |
| 1952 | 559 (-37 from 1951) | 156 (-16 from 1951) | 0.00791 |
| 1951 | 522 (-8 from 1950) | 172 (+2 from 1950) | 0.00900 |
| 1950 | 514 (-19 from 1949) | 170 (-8 from 1949) | 0.00935 |
| 1949 | 495 (+48 from 1948) | 178 (+28 from 1948) | 0.00988 |
| 1948 | 543 (-41 from 1947) | 150 (-28 from 1947) | 0.00841 |
| 1947 | 502 (+22 from 1946) | 178 (+29 from 1946) | 0.00958 |
| 1946 | 524 (+13 from 1945) | 149 (+25 from 1945) | 0.00903 |
| 1945 | 537 (+11 from 1944) | 124 (+2 from 1944) | 0.00904 |
| 1944 | 548 (+2 from 1943) | 122 (-8 from 1943) | 0.00878 |
| 1943 | 550 (+37 from 1942) | 130 (+18 from 1942) | 0.00894 |
| 1942 | 587 (-18 from 1941) | 112 (+3 from 1941) | 0.00795 |
| 1941 | 569 (+66 from 1940) | 109 (+21 from 1940) | 0.00869 |
| 1940 | 635 (+40 from 1939) | 88 (+11 from 1939) | 0.00742 |
| 1939 | 675 (-107 from 1938) | 77 (-29 from 1938) | 0.00679 |
| 1938 | 568 (+11 from 1937) | 106 (+7 from 1937) | 0.00933 |
| 1937 | 579 (+2 from 1936) | 99 (+1 from 1936) | 0.00905 |
| 1936 | 581 (-6 from 1935) | 98 (-3 from 1935) | 0.00921 |
| 1935 | 575 (+22 from 1934) | 101 (+4 from 1934) | 0.00944 |
| 1934 | 597 (+71 from 1933) | 97 (+20 from 1933) | 0.00913 |
| 1933 | 668 (+95 from 1932) | 77 (+9 from 1932) | 0.00755 |
| 1932 | 763 (-86 from 1931) | 68 (-10 from 1931) | 0.00633 |
| 1931 | 677 (+147 from 1930) | 78 (+16 from 1930) | 0.00729 |
| 1930 | 824 (-72 from 1929) | 62 (-9 from 1929) | 0.00549 |
| 1929 | 752 (-30 from 1928) | 71 (-7 from 1928) | 0.00641 |
| 1928 | 722 (-20 from 1927) | 78 (-7 from 1927) | 0.00684 |
| 1927 | 702 (-31 from 1926) | 85 (-4 from 1926) | 0.00732 |
| 1926 | 671 (+7 from 1925) | 89 No change from 1925 | 0.00777 |
| 1925 | 678 (-75 from 1924) | 89 (-23 from 1924) | 0.00773 |
| 1924 | 603 (+108 from 1923) | 112 (+29 from 1923) | 0.00958 |
| 1923 | 711 (-45 from 1922) | 83 (-10 from 1922) | 0.00733 |
| 1922 | 666 (+56 from 1921) | 93 (+10 from 1921) | 0.00827 |
| 1921 | 722 (-87 from 1920) | 83 (-15 from 1920) | 0.00729 |
| 1920 | 635 (-55 from 1919) | 98 (-9 from 1919) | 0.00890 |
| 1919 | 580 (+48 from 1918) | 107 (+12 from 1918) | 0.01054 |
| 1918 | 628 (-8 from 1917) | 95 (+4 from 1917) | 0.00906 |
| 1917 | 620 (+21 from 1916) | 91 (+8 from 1916) | 0.00949 |
| 1916 | 641 (+16 from 1915) | 83 (+5 from 1915) | 0.00899 |
| 1915 | 657 (-149 from 1914) | 78 (-14 from 1914) | 0.00885 |
| 1914 | 508 (+269 from 1913) | 92 (+55 from 1913) | 0.01346 |
| 1913 | 777 (-169 from 1912) | 37 (-8 from 1912) | 0.00690 |
| 1912 | 608 (-11 from 1911) | 45 (+19 from 1911) | 0.00997 |
| 1911 | 597 (-41 from 1910) | 26 No change from 1910 | 0.01077 |
| 1910 | 556 (+2 from 1909) | 26 (+4 from 1909) | 0.01247 |
| 1909 | 558 (-59 from 1908) | 22 (-3 from 1908) | 0.01244 |
| 1908 | 499 (+92 from 1907) | 25 (+7 from 1907) | 0.01503 |
| 1907 | 591 (+22 from 1906) | 18 (+3 from 1906) | 0.01135 |
| 1906 | 613 (-21 from 1905) | 15 (-1 from 1905) | 0.01041 |
| 1905 | 592 (-175 from 1904) | 16 (-9 from 1904) | 0.01117 |
| 1904 | 417 (-6 from 1903) | 25 (+2 from 1903) | 0.01805 |
| 1903 | 411 (+276 from 1902) | 23 (+12 from 1902) | 0.01779 |
| 1902 | 687 (-128 from 1901) | 11 (-2 from 1901) | 0.00829 |
| 1901 | 559 (-157 from 1900) | 13 (-18 from 1900) | 0.01125 |
| 1900 | 402 (+119 from 1899) | 31 (+17 from 1899) | 0.01912 |
| 1899 | 521 (+52 from 1898) | 14 No change from 1898 | 0.01215 |
| 1898 | 573 (-78 from 1897) | 14 (-2 from 1897) | 0.01060 |
| 1897 | 495 (+97 from 1896) | 16 (+3 from 1896) | 0.01312 |
| 1896 | 592 (+147 from 1895) | 13 (+4 from 1895) | 0.01007 |
| 1895 | 739 (-237 from 1894) | 9 (-7 from 1894) | 0.00711 |
| 1894 | 502 (+36 from 1893) | 16 (+3 from 1893) | 0.01281 |
| 1893 | 538 (-80 from 1892) | 13 (-5 from 1892) | 0.01074 |
| 1892 | 458 (+39 from 1891) | 18 (+5 from 1891) | 0.01369 |
| 1891 | 497 (+242 from 1890) | 13 (+5 from 1890) | 0.01190 |
| 1890 | 739 (-158 from 1889) | 8 (-3 from 1889) | 0.00668 |
| 1889 | 581 (-76 from 1888) | 11 (-4 from 1888) | 0.00924 |
| 1888 | 505 (-17 from 1887) | 15 (+2 from 1887) | 0.01155 |
| 1887 | 488 (-18 from 1886) | 13 (-2 from 1886) | 0.01189 |
| 1886 | 470 (+134 from 1885) | 15 (+5 from 1885) | 0.01260 |
| 1885 | 604 (-84 from 1884) | 10 (-3 from 1884) | 0.00862 |
| 1884 | 520 (+36 from 1883) | 13 (+2 from 1883) | 0.01059 |
| 1883 | 556 (-53 from 1881) | 11 (-1 from 1881) | 0.00978 |
| 1882 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1881 | 503 First SSA data recorded | 12 First SSA data recorded | 0.01108 |
| 1880 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
American States Popularity Rankings for Carter
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )Texas (TX)
 Texas (TX) | #712021 | #742022 | #832023 |
California (CA)
 California (CA) | #872021 | #1112022 | #1012023 |
Ohio (OH)
 Ohio (OH) | #162021 | #252022 | #302023 |
Pennsylvania (PA)
 Pennsylvania (PA) | #212021 | #212022 | #332023 |
Michigan (MI)
 Michigan (MI) | #192021 | #242022 | #232023 |
New York (NY)
 New York (NY) | #482021 | #472022 | #642023 |
Florida (FL)
 Florida (FL) | #502021 | #512022 | #522023 |
Illinois (IL)
 Illinois (IL) | #402021 | #522022 | #502023 |
Georgia (GA)
 Georgia (GA) | #222021 | #262022 | #232023 |
North Carolina (NC)
 North Carolina (NC) | #202021 | #312022 | #292023 |
Minnesota (MN)
 Minnesota (MN) | #432021 | #432022 | #552023 |
Virginia (VA)
 Virginia (VA) | #342021 | #412022 | #422023 |
Indiana (IN)
 Indiana (IN) | #272021 | #232022 | #332023 |
Missouri (MO)
 Missouri (MO) | #222021 | #252022 | #272023 |
Wisconsin (WI)
 Wisconsin (WI) | #262021 | #552022 | #322023 |
Tennessee (TN)
 Tennessee (TN) | #202021 | #292022 | #282023 |
Washington (WA)
 Washington (WA) | #442021 | #522022 | #512023 |
Iowa (IA)
 Iowa (IA) | #252021 | #212022 | #362023 |
Utah (UT)
 Utah (UT) | #322021 | #472022 | #502023 |
Kentucky (KY)
 Kentucky (KY) | #192021 | #162022 | #202023 |
Alabama (AL)
 Alabama (AL) | #112021 | #202022 | #262023 |
Louisiana (LA)
 Louisiana (LA) | #132021 | #252022 | #152023 |
Arizona (AZ)
 Arizona (AZ) | #532021 | #612022 | #722023 |
Maryland (MD)
 Maryland (MD) | #352021 | #392022 | #552023 |
New Jersey (NJ)
 New Jersey (NJ) | #472021 | #502022 | #672023 |
Colorado (CO)
 Colorado (CO) | #372021 | #622022 | #462023 |
South Carolina (SC)
 South Carolina (SC) | #162021 | #292022 | #312023 |
Oklahoma (OK)
 Oklahoma (OK) | #132021 | #212022 | #252023 |
Massachusetts (MA)
 Massachusetts (MA) | #692021 | #482022 | #772023 |
Kansas (KS)
 Kansas (KS) | #242021 | #372022 | #512023 |
Oregon (OR)
 Oregon (OR) | #332021 | #302022 | #772023 |
Arkansas (AR)
 Arkansas (AR) | #222021 | #322022 | #502023 |
Nebraska (NE)
 Nebraska (NE) | #262021 | #422022 | #442023 |
Mississippi (MS)
 Mississippi (MS) | #172021 | #302022 | #302023 |
Connecticut (CT)
 Connecticut (CT) | #272021 | #662022 | #402023 |
Idaho (ID)
 Idaho (ID) | #222021 | #252022 | #202023 |
West Virginia (WV)
 West Virginia (WV) | #182021 | #212022 | #232023 |
South Dakota (SD)
 South Dakota (SD) | #412021 | #352022 | #502023 |
Nevada (NV)
 Nevada (NV) | #752021 | #652022 | #932023 |
North Dakota (ND)
 North Dakota (ND) | #242021 | #242022 | #932023 |
New Hampshire (NH)
 New Hampshire (NH) | #132021 | #312022 | #172023 |
Maine (ME)
 Maine (ME) | #142021 | #102022 | #352023 |
Montana (MT)
 Montana (MT) | #402021 | #252022 | #362023 |
Delaware (DE)
 Delaware (DE) | #282021 | #522022 | #32023 |
Vermont (VT)
 Vermont (VT) | #502021 | #522022 | #742023 |
Alaska (AK)
 Alaska (AK) | #542021 | #552022 | #322023 |
New Mexico (NM)
 New Mexico (NM) | #812021 | #962022 | #1072023 |
Wyoming (WY)
 Wyoming (WY) | #632021 | #482022 | #32023 |
District of Columbia (DC)
 District of Columbia (DC) | #552021 | #712022 | #822023 |
Rhode Island (RI)
 Rhode Island (RI) | #462021 | #262022 | #382023 |
Hawaii (HI)
 Hawaii (HI) | #672021 | #562022 | #992023 |
Popularity Rankings for Carter in other Countries and American Territories
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)
Popularity in New Zealand
 New Zealand | #312021 | #282022 | #302023 |
Popularity in Canada
 Canada | #292021 | #322022 | #962023 |
Popularity in Scotland
 Scotland | #582021 | #612022 | #502023 |
Popularity in Other American Territories
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
 Other American Territories | #602014 | #662015 | #612017 |
Popularity in Australia (NSW)
 Australia (NSW) | #632021 | #792022 | #792023 |
Popularity in England and Wales
 England and Wales | #632019 | #642020 | #692021 |
Popularity in Northern Ireland
 Northern Ireland | #822021 | #1152022 | #882023 |
Popularity in Ireland
 Ireland | #2152021 | #1782022 | #1662023 |
Popularity in Quebec, Canada
 Quebec, Canada | #3072020 | #3772021 | #4282022 |
Popularity in Poland
 Poland | #5882013 | #5982019 |
Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources
Is Carter a Name for Boys or Girls?
Carter is a gender-neutral name, though it is more commonly used for boys. The name is suitable for both boys and girls, with some variations like “Karter” being more frequently used for girls​