Carter
Carter is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Cart driver, transporter of goods.
Origin and history
Carter is derived from an English surname of occupational origin referring to a cart driver or maker. Historically used predominantly as a surname and male given name, it has gained steady popularity for girls in the U.S. since the late 20th century. Its usage reflects the modern American trend of adopting traditional occupational surnames for female given names.
Popularity in the United States
10,038 babies in the United States have been named Carter since 1880. It ranks #1637 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #502.
States where it is most popular
- TX (12.7 %)
- CA (7.6 %)
- VA (7.2 %)
- NC (6.8 %)
- GA (6.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 5 |
| 1920-1930 | 20 |
| 1930-1940 | 13 |
| 1940-1950 | 38 |
| 1950-1960 | 64 |
| 1960-1970 | 45 |
| 1970-1980 | 98 |
| 1980-1990 | 164 |
| 1990-2000 | 523 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,020 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,408 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,640 |
Fun facts
- Originally an English occupational surname, Carter gained popularity as a first name in the United States alongside other surname-based names.
- While historically more common for boys, Carter has seen consistent modern growth for girls in the U.S. since the late 1990s.