About the name Carter
The origin of Carter is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to English roots, with the meaning “One who transports goods by cart”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Carter we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a modern feel. In 2025, Carter ranked #45 for boys in the US, with 6,024 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2015. Since 2000, 95% of US babies named Carter were boys.
- US rank 2025
- #45
- In 2015
- #24
- Babies in 2025
- 6,024
Popularity of Carter, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
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Carter
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Names similar to Carter
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.