Carter is a moderately popular girls' name in United States, ranking #500 in 2021 with 622 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2016 with 702 births ranking #458. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 842.4%. In 2021, approximately 1 in every 2,636 girls born was named Carter. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Carter is a crisp surname-style name meaning cart driver. It feels modern, practical, and strongly contemporary in girls' use.
The name rose first as a boys' surname name and later moved more visibly into girls' naming as unisex surname choices expanded. Its sound does most of the work in modern appeal.