Carter
How to say it: KAR-tur · /ˈkɑrtər/
English occupational surname meaning 'one who transports goods by cart'; increasingly used as a first name.
Carter was the 35th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 6,024 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2010s, its births are down about 44% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #72 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #35 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 6,024 |
| Share of births | 1 in 454 |
| Peak decade | 2010s |
| Change over 10 years | −44% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #72 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After climbing to a high in the 2010s, Carter remains close to that level and well used. A slight slide seems on the way.
What goes with it
Crisp consonants give Carter a sturdy and strong character. Parker shares its style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Carter is about 1 in 19.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Welsh.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #97. Ireland: #319.
Famous people named Carter
- Carter Burwell (born 1954)American film composer
- Carter Jenkins (born 1991)American actor
- Carter Bays (born 1975)American television writer and producer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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