Carter
BoysBest rank #31 (2016) · ranked in 18 years
Carter climbed onto the charts in 2008 and stayed listed for 18 years, topping out at #31 in 2016.
It climbed from #94 in 2008 to #53 in 2025.
In the most recent data (2025) it ranks #53.
At its peak year of 2016, Carter was given to 10,923 newborns.
Carter was most popular around 2016, making it characteristic of the 2010s generation.
Rank by year
Where Carter is most popular
In 2025, Carter was recorded in 51 of the 51 US jurisdictions the SSA reports on, with 6,671 births nationwide.
The largest share came from Texas at 559 births, 8.4% of the national total, where it ranked #109 that year.
By census region the name skews South, which accounts for 43.5% of Carter births, against 15.4% Northeast, 23.0% Midwest, 18.1% West.
State rankings spread more than the national figure suggests: Carter placed as high as #10 in Wyoming and as low as #145 in California.
Top states, 2025
- 1Texas559 · #109 there
- 2California446 · #145 there
- 3Florida401 · #65 there
- 4New York315 · #85 there
- 5Ohio307 · #29 there
Share by census region
- Northeast15.4%
- Midwest23.0%
- South43.5%
- West18.1%
Shares are of this name's national total, not of each state's births. SSA withholds any name under 5 occurrences per state and year. Browse all states
Frequently asked questions
- Is Carter a popular name?
- Carter reached a best rank of #31 in 2016 and has charted in 18 years.
- Where does Carter rank now?
- In the most recent data (2025), Carter ranks #53.
- Is Carter a boy or girl name?
- It is recorded primarily as a boys' name.
- When was Carter most popular?
- Carter peaked around 2016.
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Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (national)