Baby Name Popularity Profile

Carter

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

✦ Cart driver 🌍 English traditional
National Rank (2025) #454
All-Time Peak Rank #454 Achieved 2025
Total U.S. Births 10,038 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 95.1% Boy / 4.9% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1918 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 703 births in 2016
💡 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 English occupational surname meaning 'cart driver'.
Common Nicknames
Carty
Alternative Spellings
Karter
Pronunciation: KAR-ter
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Carter

According to SSA data, Carter achieved its highest historical rank of #454 in 2025. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2016 with 703 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 16.9%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 46 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Carter across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +16.9% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 703 births in 2016
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 3 yrs
Registry Streak 46 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 5
1920s: 20
1930s: 13
1940s: 38
1950s: 64
1960s: 45
1970s: 98
1980s: 164
1990s: 523
2000s: 1,020
2010s: 4,408
2020s: 3,640

📐 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 Virginia
Top States Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Nevada
States with Data 43
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Virginia #322 586 2016 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #261 558 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #326 539 2019 17.5% Decline
South Carolina #232 267 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #536 60 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #304 172 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #417 54 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #427 1,035 2023 +21.5% Growth
Maryland #674 202 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #250 182 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #422 159 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #317 273 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #484 197 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #331 105 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #343 113 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #574 352 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #212 219 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #420 169 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #334 100 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #219 26 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #449 70 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #800 153 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #302 150 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #426 169 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #490 327 2018 Insufficient historical volume
California #665 621 2016 2.1% Decline
Nebraska Unranked 41 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #692 290 2018 44.0% Decline
Mississippi #348 55 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #983 163 2018 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #730 100 2023 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #242 11 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #453 64 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #328 42 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #626 152 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #553 56 2019 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 10 2019 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 12 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut Unranked 28 2016 Insufficient historical volume
New York #707 192 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #783 60 2016 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 19 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 5 2015 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
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👧 Sister Suggestions
Jordyn Londyn Finley Harley London Aubree Danna Logan Journey Willa

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