What Does the Name Carter Mean?
Carter is a boy's name of Old English origin meaning “transporter of goods by cart.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Carter |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Old English |
| Meaning | transporter of goods by cart |
| Variants | Carson, Cartier, Karter |
| Popularity | Reached the US top 25 boys' names in the 2010s. |
The meaning and origin of Carter
The name Carter means “transporter of goods by cart” and has Old English origins. An English occupational surname for someone who transported goods by cart, from Old English. It transitioned to a popular given name in the late 20th century.
Variants and related names
Carter is related to several other names you may recognize: Carson, Cartier, Karter. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Carter?
Reached the US top 25 boys' names in the 2010s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Carter mean?+
The name Carter means “transporter of goods by cart” and is of Old English origin.
What is the origin of the name Carter?+
Carter originates from Old English.
Is Carter a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Carter has trended in the US over time.
Carter by gender
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Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press