Carter

Primarily a boy's name · 100% boys

Origin: English

Carter first appears in the data in 1996 and has been recorded in 28 different years as a boy's name. Its single biggest year was 2018 with 1,030 babies (rank #60 that year). It was not in the 2024 data. The name has been declining over the last five years.

Numerology of Carter

In Pythagorean numerology, every letter has a value from 1 to 9. Adding the letters of Carter yields these three numbers — a playful read on the name's character.

11Destiny numberThe visionary (master)Intuitive and inspirational — a heightened 2.Sum of every letter. The overall character a name carries.
6Soul urgeThe carerNurturing, responsible, family at the centre.Sum of the vowels — what's said to drive the heart.
5PersonalityThe free spiritCurious, restless, energised by change.Sum of the consonants — the outer impression.

10,993

Total babies (all years)

Years in the data

1,030

Peak in a single year

Popularity Over Time — Boys

Famous people named Carter

Carter Burwellrecording artist · b. 1954
Carter Jenkinsfilm actor · b. 1991
Carter Cruisemodel · b. 1991

Stories about the name Carter

We wanted something presidential but not heavy. Carter landed there — one president, but a low-key one. The name doesn't carry the same weight as Lincoln or Jefferson. It's just a strong, modern American name.

— Brad, Columbus OH, 2018

My wife's maiden name. When we got married she took mine. This was our way of keeping both families in the picture.

— Rob, Nashville TN, 2020

Share your Carter story

Why did you choose this name — or what does it mean to you? Approved stories appear on this page.

More popular boys' names

Other boys' names starting with C

Year-by-Year Detail

Rank is among all boys' names registered that year.

Year	Babies	Rank
1996	20	#761
1997	40	#477
1998	35	#540
1999	42	#484
2000	47	#445
2001	75	#339
2002	106	#268
2003	91	#309
2004	94	#315
2005	117	#276
2006	142	#261
2007	174	#240
2008	168	#258
2009	228	#207
2010	188	#251
2011	274	#194
2012	461	#135
2013	463	#129
2014	530	#118
2015	689	#94
2016	839	#82
2017	1,025	#62
2018	1,030	#60
2019	1,001	#63
2020	940	#64
2021	825	#69
2022	738	#75
2023	603	#86