Baby Name Popularity Profile

Carter

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Carter.

✦ Cart driver 🌍 English traditional
National Rank (2025) #45
All-Time Peak Rank #24 Achieved 2015
Total U.S. Births 206,833 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 95.1% Boy / 4.9% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1881 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 10,814 births in 2015
💡 The Carter Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Cart driver
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from an occupational surname, ultimately from an Old French word 'carretier' meaning 'cart driver'.
Common Nicknames
Cart
Pronunciation: KAR-ter
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Carter

According to SSA data, Carter achieved its highest historical rank of #24 in 2015. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2015 with 10,814 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 44.3%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 143 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Carter across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -44.3% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 10,814 births in 2015
Years in Top 100 22 yrs
Years in Top 500 44 yrs
Registry Streak 143 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 100
1890s: 134
1900s: 199
1910s: 680
1920s: 881
1930s: 863
1940s: 1,340
1950s: 1,612
1960s: 1,345
1970s: 1,359
1980s: 1,680
1990s: 9,725
2000s: 52,320
2010s: 95,261
2020s: 39,334

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Car-ter
Letter Count 6 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 25.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 25.7% of SSA names. Starts with C, a letter used by only 5.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Carter.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Utah
Top States Utah, Idaho, Nevada, South Dakota, Alaska
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Utah #75 3,817 2005 11.4% Decline
Idaho #22 1,622 2005 +1.9% Growth
Nevada #65 1,189 2016 27.9% Decline
South Dakota #42 1,187 2005 29.0% Decline
Alaska #27 476 2010 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire #16 1,063 2013 +46.9% Growth
Wyoming #7 456 2013 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #57 6,207 2009 27.2% Decline
Delaware #16 661 2014 34.1% Decline
North Dakota #32 1,056 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont #33 526 2013 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #44 3,961 2006 26.2% Decline
Arizona #72 3,595 2015 24.8% Decline
Washington #53 4,467 2012 23.3% Decline
Virginia #33 6,250 2014 21.7% Decline
Nebraska #39 2,017 2009 +4.8% Growth
Wisconsin #36 5,309 2009 24.2% Decline
Oregon #42 2,420 2013 7.8% Decline
Georgia #25 7,401 2016 22.5% Decline
Florida #49 8,944 2015 19.9% Decline
Colorado #42 3,120 2014 6.4% Decline
Montana #43 782 2015 30.3% Decline
Indiana #31 6,063 2012 30.0% Decline
North Carolina #28 7,319 2014 19.2% Decline
Missouri #37 5,615 2012 28.3% Decline
Tennessee #29 5,327 2015 11.5% Decline
Ohio #24 11,036 2012 28.9% Decline
Michigan #32 8,972 2012 28.8% Decline
Kansas #23 2,489 2015 +6.6% Growth
Maine #38 1,030 2013 20.6% Decline
Maryland #43 3,427 2014 7.8% Decline
Kentucky #21 3,753 2013 16.3% Decline
South Carolina #23 3,031 2016 15.7% Decline
Alabama #23 3,722 2015 19.3% Decline
Oklahoma #31 2,736 2014 12.7% Decline
Louisiana #25 3,583 2016 24.4% Decline
Arkansas #18 2,096 2014 4.8% Decline
Texas #80 13,774 2014 16.5% Decline
Pennsylvania #31 9,250 2015 29.4% Decline
Connecticut #39 1,858 2018 10.0% Decline
Illinois #43 7,912 2015 23.6% Decline
West Virginia #15 1,444 2016 5.5% Decline
Mississippi #32 1,950 2016 33.3% Decline
California #102 12,413 2015 20.4% Decline
New Jersey #65 3,377 2015 31.1% Decline
Hawaii #70 363 2016 Insufficient historical volume
New York #57 8,972 2014 28.6% Decline
Massachusetts #52 2,678 2015 1.8% Decline
Rhode Island #61 387 2022 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #55 433 2012 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #54 498 2015 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Parker Easton Sawyer Landon Kayden Declan Lucas Jackson Wyatt Mason
👧 Sister Suggestions
Harper Stella Sophie Audrey Hadley Layla Riley Sadie Paisley Kinsley

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