Boy name · English
Colter
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from a surname for a keeper of horsesColter is a boy's name that is of English origin: from a surname for a keeper of horses. It is used in English.
- Meaning
- From a surname for a keeper of horses
- Origin
- English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #157 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Colter
As a boy's name, Colter is of English origin: from a surname for a keeper of horses. It is used in English.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Colter on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Colter on 2 lists.
“For mountain man John, an early Yellowstone explorer”
From Redneck names for boys, outdoorsy country boy names
“From an English surname for a keeper of colts; mountain man John Colter”
From Cowboy names, western boy names
How popular is Colter?
- US rank in 2025
- #157
- 2,354 babies, 1,378 per million boys
- Best rank
- #157 in 2025
- 2,354 babies that year
- Babies since 1971
- At least 10,705
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 6 per million |
| 1980s | 31 per million |
| 1990s | 50 per million |
| 2000s | 56 per million |
| 2010s | 81 per million |
| 2020s | 619 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,357 | #1,266 | #1,229 | #969 | #972 | #630 | #430 | #321 | #218 | #157 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Colter
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- FilipLover of horses (Greek, boy)
- EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- KennedyFrom an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- NolanFrom an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- AshwiniPossessing horses (Sanskrit, unisex)
- BakerFrom a surname meaning baker (Old English, boy)
- BarrettFrom a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptive (Middle English, boy)
- BeckettFrom a surname, possibly from beak or stream (Middle English, boy)
- BeckhamFrom a surname meaning Becca's homestead (Old English, boy)
- BensonFrom a surname meaning son of Benedict (English, boy)
- BentleyFrom a surname meaning bentgrass clearing (Old English, boy)
- BlakeFrom a surname meaning black or pale (Old English, unisex)
Middle names for Colter
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from English
- AinsleyFrom a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing (English, unisex)
- ArmstrongStrong in the arm (English, boy)
- ScottFrom Scotland (English, boy)
- AceFrom the English word ace, highest rank (English, boy)
- AndersonSon of Andrew (English, boy)
- ArloMeaning uncertain; perhaps from Spenser's Arlo Hill (English, boy)
- AyrtonSettlement on the River Aire (English, boy)
- BayA sheltered curve of coast (English, unisex)
- BrysonFrom a surname meaning son of Brice (English, boy)
- CedarFragrant evergreen tree (English, boy)
- ChaseHunter (English, boy)
- CrewFrom the English word crew, a group of people (English, boy)
- DawsonSon of David (English, boy)
- EllisonSon of Ellis (English, unisex)
- ForestWoodland (English, boy)
- FranklinFreeman (English, boy)
- GraysonSon of the steward (English, boy)
- GreysonVariant of Grayson, from a surname meaning son of the steward (English, boy)
Colter: common questions
What does the name Colter mean?
Colter is of English origin: from a surname for a keeper of horses. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Colter a boy or girl name?
Colter is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Colter come from?
Colter is of English origin: from a surname for a keeper of horses. Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Colter?
Colter ranked #157 in the US in 2025, with 2,354 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Colter?
Names spelled like Colter include Carter, Cole, Collen, Colt and Colton.
What middle names go with Colter?
Middle names that flow well with Colter include Dean, Elton, Finn, Jack and Lance. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.