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Home › Baby Names Directory › Carter

Carter

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAR-ter /ˈkɑːr.tər/High

Meaning: English occupational surname from Middle English 'carter,' meaning a person who transports goods by cart; transferred to first-name use for both sexesHigh

In 30 seconds: Carter is a no-nonsense occupational surname name meaning 'cart driver' that has crossed over as a modern first name for both boys and girls. Strong and confident, it fits squarely within the surname-name trend.
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Origin HighEnglish
MeaningEnglish occupational surname from Middle English 'carter,' meaning a person who transports goods by cart; transferred to first-name use for both sexes
U.S. rank (2025)#454 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births679 girls (0.04% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 10,036

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201619182025

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 derived from Middle English carter, denoting a person who transports goods by cart. Occupational surnames became hereditary in England from the 12th century onward. Carter, like other occupation-based surnames such as Mason and Cooper, transferred naturally to first-name use in the American naming tradition.

Carter as a first name has been used for boys since the mid-20th century and gained significant popularity in the 1990s and 2000s. Its crossover to girls' usage accelerated in the 2010s. The name's confident, modern sound and historical U.S. presidential association (Jimmy Carter) contribute to its appeal.

Did you know? Carter is traditionally a boys' name (and still more common for boys), but its use as a girls' name has been growing rapidly in the 2010s and 2020s — part of a broader trend of traditionally male surnames crossing over to girls.
Overall data confidence 93%
Behind the Name — Carter — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CarteraKartera

Nicknames

CaryCarts

Famous Bearers

  • ★Jimmy Carter (1924–2024)
    39th President of the United States (1977–1981)

If you like Carter…

Taylor— shares the occupational surname crossover tradition and similar era of popularity
Harper— another occupational surname that became a top girls' name in the same era
Sawyer— equally rugged occupational surname now popular for both sexes
Wynter— shares Carter's English roots
Miller— the same unisex feel

Explore names like Carter

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Carter mean?

Carter means 'one who transports goods by cart,' from the Middle English occupational surname for a cart driver.

How do you pronounce Carter?

Carter is pronounced KAR-ter /ˈkɑːr.tər/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Carter a girls' name?

Carter is traditionally more common for boys but is growing rapidly as a girls' name, part of the broader trend of masculine surnames crossing over for girls.

Is Carter a popular name?

Yes. Carter has been in the U.S. top 100 boys' names for several years and is steadily rising for girls, reflecting widespread appeal across both sexes.

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