Carter
#454 for girls in 2025, 679 births · #45 for boys in 2025, 6,024 births
Given to boys 95.4% of the time
Showing
- Peak · boys
- 2015 · 10,814 births
- Debut · boys
- 12 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 22 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 206,833since 1881
Carter over time
boys
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #454 | 679 | #45 | 6,024 |
| 2024 | #508 | 605 | #46 | 6,289 |
| 2023 | #510 | 594 | #48 | 5,878 |
| 2022 | #550 | 553 | #47 | 6,361 |
| 2021 | #501 | 622 | #39 | 7,205 |
| 2020 | #514 | 587 | #33 | 7,577 |
| 2019 | #514 | 611 | #30 | 8,682 |
| 2018 | #478 | 655 | #24 | 9,385 |
| 2017 | #520 | 602 | #24 | 9,833 |
| 2016 | #457 | 703 | #26 | 10,220 |
| 2015 | #539 | 581 | #24 | 10,814 |
| 2014 | #790 | 355 | #27 | 10,691 |
| 2013 | #860 | 300 | #33 | 9,590 |
| 2012 | #1,031 | 246 | #36 | 9,274 |
| 2011 | #1,229 | 195 | #41 | 8,608 |
| 2010 | #1,431 | 160 | #48 | 8,164 |
| 2009 | #1,810 | 119 | #50 | 8,173 |
| 2008 | #2,004 | 104 | #65 | 7,069 |
| 2007 | #2,003 | 102 | #80 | 6,101 |
| 2006 | #1,702 | 123 | #75 | 6,433 |
| 2005 | #1,657 | 120 | #77 | 5,899 |
| 2004 | #1,698 | 114 | #89 | 5,009 |
| 2003 | #1,832 | 101 | #102 | 4,171 |
| 2002 | #2,414 | 66 | #108 | 3,480 |
| 2001 | #2,075 | 80 | #111 | 3,435 |
| 2000 | #1,869 | 91 | #152 | 2,550 |
| 1999 | #1,893 | 83 | #179 | 1,944 |
| 1998 | #2,244 | 63 | #189 | 1,800 |
| 1997 | #2,229 | 61 | #204 | 1,540 |
| 1996 | #2,084 | 66 | #243 | 1,216 |
| 1995 | #2,244 | 59 | #286 | 919 |
| 1994 | #2,752 | 44 | #421 | 544 |
| 1993 | #2,725 | 44 | #419 | 550 |
| 1992 | #3,581 | 30 | #450 | 487 |
| 1991 | #2,843 | 41 | #498 | 391 |
| 1990 | #3,364 | 32 | #549 | 334 |
| 1989 | #4,248 | 22 | #565 | 294 |
| 1988 | #5,321 | 15 | #569 | 265 |
| 1987 | #3,331 | 27 | #624 | 213 |
| 1986 | #3,890 | 21 | #665 | 182 |
| 1985 | #3,517 | 24 | #670 | 175 |
| 1984 | #4,737 | 15 | #742 | 137 |
| 1983 | #6,705 | 9 | #811 | 116 |
| 1982 | #5,534 | 12 | #809 | 119 |
| 1981 | #5,885 | 11 | #971 | 86 |
| 1980 | #7,418 | 8 | #924 | 93 |
| 1979 | — | #1,116 | 64 | |
| 1978 | #6,385 | 9 | #1,034 | 71 |
| 1977 | #5,532 | 11 | #773 | 121 |
| 1976 | #4,363 | 14 | #651 | 158 |
| 1975 | #5,516 | 10 | #635 | 162 |
| 1974 | #4,227 | 14 | #686 | 142 |
| 1973 | #4,871 | 11 | #700 | 131 |
| 1972 | #5,480 | 9 | #617 | 163 |
| 1971 | #4,810 | 11 | #600 | 191 |
| 1970 | #5,413 | 9 | #655 | 156 |
| 1969 | #5,456 | 8 | #646 | 150 |
| 1968 | #6,246 | 6 | #675 | 124 |
| 1967 | — | #634 | 140 | |
| 1966 | — | #656 | 127 | |
| 1965 | #4,831 | 8 | #697 | 113 |
| 1964 | — | #669 | 132 | |
| 1963 | #5,296 | 7 | #620 | 158 |
| 1962 | #4,263 | 10 | #678 | 130 |
| 1961 | #5,851 | 6 | #674 | 132 |
| 1960 | — | #665 | 139 | |
| 1959 | #5,031 | 7 | #666 | 132 |
| 1958 | #6,103 | 5 | #601 | 166 |
| 1957 | #6,086 | 5 | #652 | 139 |
| 1956 | #4,837 | 7 | #573 | 176 |
| 1955 | #4,069 | 9 | #607 | 149 |
| 1954 | — | #528 | 191 | |
| 1953 | #4,226 | 8 | #557 | 161 |
| 1952 | #4,123 | 8 | #559 | 156 |
| 1951 | #4,011 | 8 | #522 | 172 |
| 1950 | #4,315 | 7 | #514 | 170 |
| 1949 | #4,673 | 6 | #495 | 178 |
| 1948 | #3,593 | 9 | #543 | 150 |
| 1947 | — | #502 | 178 | |
| 1946 | — | #524 | 149 | |
| 1945 | — | #537 | 124 | |
| 1944 | #4,574 | 5 | #548 | 122 |
| 1943 | #4,691 | 5 | #550 | 130 |
| 1942 | — | #587 | 112 | |
| 1941 | #3,559 | 7 | #569 | 109 |
| 1940 | #3,863 | 6 | #635 | 88 |
| 1939 | #3,782 | 6 | #675 | 77 |
| 1938 | — | #568 | 106 | |
| 1937 | — | #579 | 99 | |
| 1936 | — | #581 | 98 | |
| 1935 | — | #575 | 101 | |
| 1934 | — | #597 | 97 | |
| 1933 | — | #668 | 77 | |
| 1932 | — | #763 | 68 | |
| 1931 | #3,497 | 7 | #677 | 78 |
| 1930 | — | #824 | 62 | |
| 1929 | — | #752 | 71 | |
| 1928 | — | #722 | 78 | |
| 1927 | #3,284 | 9 | #702 | 85 |
| 1926 | — | #671 | 89 | |
| 1925 | #4,426 | 6 | #678 | 89 |
| 1924 | — | #603 | 112 | |
| 1923 | — | #711 | 83 | |
| 1922 | — | #666 | 93 | |
| 1921 | — | #722 | 83 | |
| 1920 | #4,975 | 5 | #635 | 98 |
| 1919 | — | #580 | 107 | |
| 1918 | #4,809 | 5 | #628 | 95 |
| 1917 | — | #620 | 91 | |
| 1916 | — | #641 | 83 | |
| 1915 | — | #657 | 78 | |
| 1914 | — | #508 | 92 | |
| 1913 | — | #777 | 37 | |
| 1912 | — | #608 | 45 | |
| 1911 | — | #597 | 26 | |
| 1910 | — | #556 | 26 | |
| 1909 | — | #558 | 22 | |
| 1908 | — | #499 | 25 | |
| 1907 | — | #591 | 18 | |
| 1906 | — | #613 | 15 | |
| 1905 | — | #592 | 16 | |
| 1904 | — | #417 | 25 | |
| 1903 | — | #411 | 23 | |
| 1902 | — | #687 | 11 | |
| 1901 | — | #559 | 13 | |
| 1900 | — | #402 | 31 | |
| 1899 | — | #521 | 14 | |
| 1898 | — | #573 | 14 | |
| 1897 | — | #495 | 16 | |
| 1896 | — | #592 | 13 | |
| 1895 | — | #738 | 9 | |
| 1894 | — | #502 | 16 | |
| 1893 | — | #538 | 13 | |
| 1892 | — | #458 | 18 | |
| 1891 | — | #497 | 13 | |
| 1890 | — | #739 | 8 | |
| 1889 | — | #581 | 11 | |
| 1888 | — | #505 | 15 | |
| 1887 | — | #488 | 13 | |
| 1886 | — | #470 | 15 | |
| 1885 | — | #604 | 10 | |
| 1884 | — | #520 | 13 | |
| 1883 | — | #556 | 11 | |
| 1882 | — | — | ||
| 1881 | — | #503 | 12 | |
| 1880 | — | — | ||
First appearance
1881
The first year at least five boys were named Carter! It came in at #503, and was given to 12 baby boys.
Quietest stretch: 1882, when fewer than 5 boys a year got the name.
Where Carter is popular in 2024
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · boys
- Maine#10 · 1 in 93
- Vermont#13 · 1 in 71
- Mississippi#14 · 1 in 151
- Alabama#14 · 1 in 160
- Louisiana#14 · 1 in 176
Best ever in a state: #1 in North Dakota, 2008.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | #10 | 40 | 1 in 93 |
| Vermont | #13 | 16 | 1 in 71 |
| Alabama | #14 | 137 | 1 in 160 |
| Louisiana | #14 | 112 | 1 in 176 |
| Mississippi | #14 | 73 | 1 in 151 |
| Delaware | #16 | 27 | 1 in 111 |
| Michigan | #16 | 234 | 1 in 171 |
| West Virginia | #17 | 47 | 1 in 134 |
| Missouri | #18 | 173 | 1 in 159 |
| South Carolina | #18 | 126 | 1 in 166 |
| Pennsylvania | #21 | 302 | 1 in 173 |
| Arkansas | #22 | 74 | 1 in 169 |
| Ohio | #22 | 298 | 1 in 177 |
| Indiana | #24 | 179 | 1 in 179 |
| Kentucky | #25 | 114 | 1 in 179 |
| North Carolina | #25 | 263 | 1 in 194 |
| Kansas | #26 | 79 | 1 in 171 |
| Oklahoma | #27 | 92 | 1 in 191 |
| Tennessee | #27 | 187 | 1 in 194 |
| Wisconsin | #29 | 127 | 1 in 185 |
| South Dakota | #35 | 22 | 1 in 168 |
| Connecticut | #36 | 78 | 1 in 171 |
| Nebraska | #36 | 43 | 1 in 200 |
| Virginia | #37 | 176 | 1 in 214 |
| Montana | #38 | 23 | 1 in 158 |
| Iowa | #40 | 60 | 1 in 229 |
| New Hampshire | #41 | 28 | 1 in 155 |
| Rhode Island | #42 | 21 | 1 in 150 |
| Colorado | #43 | 120 | 1 in 218 |
| Oregon | #45 | 66 | 1 in 225 |
| Alaska | #47 | 14 | 1 in 162 |
| Georgia | #48 | 193 | 1 in 265 |
| Florida | #49 | 385 | 1 in 248 |
| Idaho | #49 | 38 | 1 in 220 |
| Arizona | #51 | 132 | 1 in 251 |
| Maryland | #51 | 97 | 1 in 240 |
| North Dakota | #53 | 16 | 1 in 206 |
| Utah | #53 | 72 | 1 in 268 |
| Massachusetts | #57 | 106 | 1 in 255 |
| New York | #57 | 308 | 1 in 281 |
| Minnesota | #61 | 88 | 1 in 274 |
| Illinois | #63 | 162 | 1 in 310 |
| Hawaii | #64 | 13 | 1 in 220 |
| New Mexico | #64 | 28 | 1 in 233 |
| Texas | #65 | 580 | 1 in 308 |
| Washington | #66 | 106 | 1 in 307 |
| New Jersey | #67 | 136 | 1 in 294 |
| District of Columbia | #68 | 13 | 1 in 215 |
| Nevada | #69 | 40 | 1 in 280 |
| Wyoming | #77 | 6 | 1 in 195 |
| California | #98 | 419 | 1 in 430 |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Carter
Momentum · boys
Falling
- 1 spot since 2024 (#46 → #45)
- 12 spots since 2020 (#33 → #45)
- 21 spots since 2015 (#24 → #45)
- Biggest jump: 276 spots in 1903 (#687 → #411)
- Biggest drop: 261 spots in 1978 (#773 → #1,034)
Rise & fade · boys
134 yrs to peak
- Debuted 1881
- Peaked 2015 at #24 (10,814 births)
- Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 22 yrs
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 22 yrs · run 2004–2025
- Top 1,000: 142 yrs · run 1883–1977
Share of babies · boys
1 in 177
- Highest: 1 in 177 boys born in 2015 were named Carter (0.56%)
- Latest: 1 in 284 boys born in 2025 (0.35%)
Era · boys
The 2010s
- 46.1% of all boys named Carter (95,261) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 100 | #470 (1886) | #528 |
| 1890s | 134 | #458 (1892) | #565 |
| 1900s | 199 | #402 (1900) | #533 |
| 1910s | 680 | #508 (1914) | #617 |
| 1920s | 881 | #603 (1924) | #686 |
| 1930s | 863 | #568 (1938) | #651 |
| 1940s | 1,340 | #495 (1949) | #549 |
| 1950s | 1,612 | #514 (1950) | #578 |
| 1960s | 1,345 | #620 (1963) | #661 |
| 1970s | 1,359 | #600 (1971) | #747 |
| 1980s | 1,680 | #565 (1989) | #735 |
| 1990s | 9,725 | #179 (1999) | #344 |
| 2000s | 52,320 | #50 (2009) | #91 |
| 2010s | 95,261 | #24 (2015) | #31 |
| 2020s | 39,334 | #33 (2020) | #43 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Carter in 2024
girls
#508
605 births · 1 in 2,678 girls
boys
#46
6,289 births · 1 in 274 boys
Top girls' names in 2024
Top boys' names in 2024
More about 2024
girls
1,620,190 girls got a published name in 2024; 1 in 2,678 of them was named Carter, which outranked 97.1% of the 17,726 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 7.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
boys
1,722,888 boys got a published name in 2024; 1 in 274 of them was named Carter, which outranked 99.7% of the 14,294 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 8.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Carter
Biggest movers since 2023
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.