Carter

Meaning of Carter

This name comes from an old job title. It means someone who transports goods using a cart.

Carter has English roots — browse every English baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Carter

Carter has held fairly steady, sitting around #45 in 2025 after peaking at #24 in 2015.

Carter as a girl's name

Carter is also used as a girl's name, currently ranked #454 in the US. It originally comes from an old English surname that described someone who was a transporter of goods, like a carter. It suggests a connection to work and moving things.

Notable people named Carter

• Jimmy Carter
  Former US President
• Nick Carter
  Singer, Backstreet Boys
• Aaron Carter
  Singer, Pop star
• Vince Carter
  Basketball Hall of Famer
• Carter Bays
  TV writer, How I Met Your Mother

More English names

Questions about the name Carter

What does the name Carter mean?

Carter means this name comes from an old job title. it means someone who transports goods using a cart, and it comes from English origins.

Is Carter a boy's or a girl's name?

Carter is used for both boys and girls in the United States, which makes it a unisex name.

How popular is the name Carter?

In 2025, Carter ranked #45 for boys, up from #46 the year before and #454 for girls, up from #508 the year before.

When was Carter most popular?

Carter peaked at #24 in 2015.