Carter
Carter is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Cart driver or transporter of goods.
Origin and history
Carter originates as an English occupational surname denoting a driver or builder of carts. It transitioned into a popular given name in the late 20th century. Today, it stands as a consistently well-ranked boys' name in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
206,833 babies in the United States have been named Carter since 1880. It ranks #180 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #44.
States where it is most popular
- TX (6.8 %)
- CA (6.1 %)
- OH (5.5 %)
- PA (4.6 %)
- MI (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 100 |
| 1890-1900 | 134 |
| 1900-1910 | 199 |
| 1910-1920 | 680 |
| 1920-1930 | 881 |
| 1930-1940 | 863 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,340 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,612 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,345 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,359 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,680 |
| 1990-2000 | 9,725 |
| 2000-2010 | 52,320 |
| 2010-2019 | 95,261 |
| 2020-2029 | 39,334 |
Famous people named Carter
- Carter Jenkins: Actor
- Carter Beauford: Musician, Drummer
Fun facts
- The name comes from the Anglo-Norman word 'cartier', which referred to someone who transported goods using a cart or wagon.
- While used primarily as a surname in history, its adoption as a given name was influenced by prominent figures such as U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
- Carter rose rapidly in popularity starting in the 1990s and has remained a top 50 boys' name in the U.S. in recent years.