Given name & surname
Karter
“a transporter of merchandise”·“one who transports goods; one who drives a cart”
In English use, Karter has a related form in Carter. Interpretations include “a transporter of merchandise” (English) and “one who transports goods; one who drives a cart” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Karter has a related form in Carter. Interpretations include “a transporter of merchandise” (English) and “one who transports goods; one who drives a cart” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Karter has a related form in Carter. An origin associated with Carter is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1985. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Karter has a related form in Carter. The history of Carter gives this family its wider story. Carter’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Karter through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 34,052
- 29,465 boys · 4,587 girls
- Most popular year
- 2019
- 2,795 babies
- 2025
- 1,521
- #270 for boys · #989 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −29%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 86% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,265 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 270 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 30.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 2,425 in 2019. It also appeared in 256 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (129). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 17,795 as a first name in 2020; 394 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Karter’s family of names
In English usage, Karter has a related form in Carter. In Greek usage, Karter as a surname is a transliteration of Κάρτερ.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Karter, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Kashton is a masculine given name.
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