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Carter

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAR-ter /ˈkɑːr.tər/High

Meaning: One who drives a cart; transporter of goods; from Middle English cartare (cart driver)High

In 30 seconds: An English occupational surname meaning 'cart driver,' Carter ranked #45 for boys in 2024 — and consistently hovers near the top of the boys' charts. Its confident two-syllable sound and presidential association keep it strongly popular.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningOne who drives a cart; transporter of goods; from Middle English cartare (cart driver)

U.S. rank (2025)#45 → Stable

2025 U.S. births6,024 boys (0.35% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2015

Total births (all-time)≈ 206,786

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Carter is an English occupational surname from Middle English cartare (cart driver), from Old French caretier. Carters were important in medieval commerce — transporting grain, goods, and supplies between towns. The surname became one of England's most common.

Carter entered the U.S. boys' top 100 in the early 2000s and has climbed steadily. It ranked #45 for boys in 2024, driven by the trend for strong, confident surname names. It also appears in girls' data (as Karter).

Did you know? President Jimmy Carter (born 1924) gave the surname its most prominent presidential association — but the most famous fictional Carter may be John Carter of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs's 1912 planetary romance hero.

Overall data confidence 94%

Behind the Name — Carter — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

Karter

Nicknames

Cart

Famous Bearers

★Jimmy Carter (1924–2024)
39th President of the United States (1977–1981) and 2002 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He was the longest-lived U.S. president.

If you like Carter…

Cooper— occupational surname name at the same confidence level

Hunter— occupational surname name in the same macho-classic category

Tucker— occupational -er surname name in the same register

Walker— occupational -er surname name from the same medieval trade tradition

Explore names like Carter

By themeenglish two-syllable surname-style occupational popular

By meaningSea / Water

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Carter mean?

Carter means 'one who drives a cart,' an English occupational surname from Middle English cartare (cart driver).

How do you pronounce Carter?

It's said KAR-ter — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Carter a boy or girl name?

Carter is primarily a boys' name but also appears in girls' data.

How popular is Carter?

Carter ranked #45 for U.S. boys in 2024.