Carter Baby boy name meaning, origin, and popularity

Before it was a popular name for baby boys, Carter was an Irish surname back when people's last names often referred to what they did for a living. If you were a Carter, it meant you transported goods with a cart or wagon – and in Irish tradition, it was often McCarter, meaning "son of Carter." But there's more to the name than just being a cart-pusher.

If you're looking for a more romantic meaning, the word "carter" is related to the Gaelic word "cairtear," which loosely translates to "tourist" or "sojourner" in English.

Carter was for a long time (and still is) a popular last name. Famous holders of the last name include former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, celebrity couple and musicians Shawn Carter (aka Jay-Z) and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and siblings and musicians Aaron Carter and Nick Carter – just to name a few.

Carter is pronounced "KAR-tur" and is most often spelled with a "C," though the alternate Karter has gained some popularity in recent years. And it's usually given to boys, though quite a few girls share the name – especially spelled Karter.

According to the Social Security Administration, Carter has been among the top 1,000 most popular baby names almost every year since 1900. It broke into the top 100 for the first time in 2004 and has only gotten more popular since – peaking at number 24 in 2018.

It's even more popular among BabyCenter parents, reaching number 13 in 2019. (BabyCenter's ranking is based on data from hundreds of thousands of parents who share their babies' names with us.)

Carter's alternate spelling Karter is on the rise. In 2005, this spelling variation first appeared on the Social Security Administration's list of the 1,000 most popular boy names and has slowly moved up the ranks since.

With its humble origins and wide recognition, Carter is a strong, classic name that's sure to suit both boys and girls for decades to come.