Boy name · English
Karter
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: variant of Carter, a surname meaning one who uses a cartKarter is a boy's name that is of English origin: variant of Carter, a surname meaning one who uses a cart. It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Variant of Carter, a surname meaning one who uses a cart
- Origin
- English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #270 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Karter
As a boy's name, Karter is of English origin: variant of Carter, a surname meaning one who uses a cart. It is used in English.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
How popular is Karter?
- US rank in 2025
- #270
- 1,265 babies, 741 per million boys
- Best rank
- #162 in 2020
- Most babies: 2,425 in 2019
- Babies since 1985
- At least 29,465
- 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 | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 0 per million |
| 1990s | 11 per million |
| 2000s | 104 per million |
| 2010s | 897 per million |
| 2020s | 993 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #190 | #174 | #176 | #163 | #162 | #201 | #217 | #225 | #248 | #270 |
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 Karter
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- KarelFree man (Germanic, boy)
- KarstenFollower of Christ (Latin, boy)
- KartikOf the Pleiades (Sanskrit, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
- AliyahVariant of Aaliyah, high, lofty, sublime (Arabic, girl)
- CelineVariant of Céline, from Caelinus, from Caelius or caelum, heaven (Latin, girl)
- ElianVariant of names beginning with Eli, such as Elijah (Hebrew, boy)
- AilanyVariant of Ailani, possibly Hawaiian, to rule as chief (Hawaiian, girl)
- AmayaVariant of Amaia, Basque for the end (Basque, girl)
- ArlethVariant of Arlette, from Herleva, possibly army and legacy (Germanic, girl)
- AthenaMeaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom (Greek, girl)
- AvaVariant of Eve, life; in Persian, voice (Hebrew, girl)
- AydenVariant of Aidan, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- EithanVariant of Ethan, firm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
- EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
Middle names for Karter
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)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- ScottFrom Scotland (English, boy)
- AceFrom the English word ace, highest rank (English, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- 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)
- BensonFrom a surname meaning son of Benedict (English, boy)
- BrysonFrom a surname meaning son of Brice (English, boy)
- CarterCart driver (English, boy)
- CedarFragrant evergreen tree (English, boy)
- ChaseHunter (English, boy)
- ColterFrom a surname for a keeper of horses (English, boy)
- CooperBarrel maker (English, boy)
- CrewFrom the English word crew, a group of people (English, boy)
Karter: common questions
What does the name Karter mean?
Karter is of English origin: variant of Carter, a surname meaning one who uses a cart. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Karter a boy or girl name?
Karter is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 256 girls and 1,265 boys in the US were named Karter, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Karter come from?
Karter is of English origin: variant of Carter, a surname meaning one who uses a cart. Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Karter?
Karter ranked #270 in the US in 2025, with 1,265 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Karter?
Names spelled like Karter include Karel, Karsten and Kartik.
What middle names go with Karter?
Middle names that flow well with Karter include Ezra, Ford, Jack, Mark and Reid. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.