Karter - A very unique male name
Karter at a glance
Karter is ranked #271 among boy baby names in 2025, with 1,245 births in 2025. It peaked in 2020 at #163 and first appeared on the charts in 1997.
- Rank in 2025
- #271
- Births in 2025
- 1,245
- Peak year
- 2020 (#163)
- First appeared
- 1997
- Trend
- #163 in 2020 → #271 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 1,178 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.1/5 (25 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 1,178 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Karter peaked in popularity 6 years ago in 2020 on position 163.
Famous with this name
Karter
Karter Evans
Karter Kaplan
How would you rate Karter, 1-5?
Karter is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Karter is currently topping the baby name charts in Mississippi at position #62 - and is the least popular in Minnesota at position #757.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Karter is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Karter origin and meaning
Transferred surname, respelled — English occupational
From Carter, the occupational surname for a man who drove a cart or carried goods
Karter is simply Carter with the fashionable initial K, riding the same wave that took Carter into the boys' top tier. This spelling first appears in 1997 and peaked in 2019; it has since fallen from #163 in 2020 to #271 in 2025, even as Carter itself stays high. The K marks it as the deliberately modern version.
Attested etymology
Karter is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Karter, pop culture references for the name Karter and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Karter
We've found the following names that sound similar to Karter, sorted by popularity.
Kartier / Kharter / Karder /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 271 |
| 2024 | 248 |
| 2023 | 225 |
| 2022 | 217 |
| 2021 | 200 |
| 2020 | 163 |
| 2019 | 164 |
| 2018 | 176 |
| 2017 | 175 |
| 2016 | 191 |
| 2015 | 183 |
| 2014 | 194 |
| 2013 | 297 |
| 2012 | 348 |
| 2011 | 392 |
| 2010 | 439 |
| 2009 | 564 |
| 2008 | 656 |
| 2007 | 796 |
| 2006 | 845 |
| 2005 | 902 |
| 2004 | 1125 |
| 2003 | 1075 |
| 2002 | 1385 |
| 2001 | 1288 |
| 2000 | 2101 |
| 1999 | 2463 |
| 1998 | 3428 |
| 1997 | 2969 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | 62 |
| Louisiana | 78 |
| Georgia | 119 |
| Delaware | 133 |
| South Carolina | 134 |
| Alabama | 136 |
| Arkansas | 172 |
| North Carolina | 174 |
| North Dakota | 186 |
| District of Columbia | 187 |
| Montana | 187 |
| Maryland | 187 |
| Oklahoma | 206 |
| Missouri | 210 |
| Tennessee | 215 |
| Ohio | 224 |
| Florida | 235 |
| Virginia | 236 |
| South Dakota | 241 |
| Maine | 251 |
| Indiana | 260 |
| West Virginia | 279 |
| Kentucky | 288 |
| Michigan | 291 |
| Texas | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | 300 |
| Nevada | 344 |
| New York | 355 |
| Nebraska | 359 |
| Illinois | 410 |
| Iowa | 423 |
| Wisconsin | 425 |
| Washington | 460 |
| Kansas | 493 |
| Oregon | 504 |
| Arizona | 509 |
| California | 512 |
| Colorado | 519 |
| New Jersey | 557 |
| Massachusetts | 661 |
| Utah | 755 |
| Minnesota | 757 |
Even more about Karter
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Karter a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Karter?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
KAR-ter · /ˈkɑrtər/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Carter — The standard spelling, far more common
Famous bearers
None yet — the name first appears in the data in 1997, and its oldest bearers are still young.
Style
SurnameOccupationalModern coinage
Why parents choose it
Karter appeals to parents who like Carter's sturdy occupational sound but want the spelling to stand out — though that spelling is now past its peak.
Worth knowing
- It will be spelled Carter by default almost everywhere; the K needs constant correction.
