Best 100 Middle Names For Carter or Karter in 2023

middle names for Carter

Carter is a name that gives off a cool and casual vibe compared to more traditional boy names. It follows the surname turned first name trend that parents adore.

If you’re considering naming your son Carter or Karter, we’ve compiled the best middle names for Carter below. 

Meaning of the Name Carter or Karter 

Carter is derived from an English surname that means “one who uses a cart.” 

Some believe the name is related to the Gaelic word cairt meaning “cart.” It was derived from the Latin word carettarius.

Others think it comes from the Old French word caret meaning “carrier.” 

OriginEnglish
Pronunciationcar-terr

Best Middle Names for Carter or Karter

Whether you’re searching for a traditional middle name or something more unique, we’ve put together some great middle name options here.

  1. Carter Abraham
  2. Carter Aiden
  3. Carter Alexander
  4. Carter Angelo
  5. Carter Ashton
  6. Carter Austin
  7. Carter Benjamin
  8. Carter Benson
  9. Carter Bodhi
  10. Carter Bradley
  11. Carter Brandon
  12. Carter Briggs
  13. Carter Caleb
  14. Carter Cassius
  15. Carter Christopher
  16. Carter Colton
  17. Carter Cyrus
  18. Carter Dante
  19. Carter Diego
  20. Carter Dominick
  21. Carter Douglass
  22. Carter Edward
  23. Carter Elijah
  24. Carter Ellis
  25. Carter Finnegan
  26. Carter Frederick
  27. Carter Gael
  28. Carter Gavin
  29. Carter Geoffrey
  30. Carter Gideon
  31. Carter Grant
  32. Carter Griffin
  33. Carter Hayden
  34. Carter Hudson
  35. Carter Ian
  36. Carter Isaac
  37. Carter Jackson
  38. Carter Jared
  39. Carter Jayden
  40. Carter Jeremiah
  41. Carter Jesse
  42. Carter Johnathan
  43. Carter Jonah
  44. Carter Joshua
  45. Carter Kaiden
  46. Carter Keegan
  47. Carter Kendrick
  48. Carter Killian
  49. Carter Knox
  50. Carter Kobe
  51. Carter Lane
  52. Carter Lawrence
  53. Carter Lawson
  54. Carter Lennox
  55. Carter Leon
  56. Carter Levi
  57. Carter Lewis
  58. Carter Liam
  59. Carter Linden
  60. Carter Lorenzo
  61. Carter Louis
  62. Carter Malcolm
  63. Carter Mason
  64. Carter Mateo
  65. Carter Maxwell
  66. Carter Michael
  67. Carter Nathan
  68. Carter Noel
  69. Carter Nolen
  70. Carter Odin
  71. Carter Owen
  72. Carter Patrick
  73. Carter Paul
  74. Carter Payton
  75. Carter Philip
  76. Carter Phoenix
  77. Carter Porter
  78. Carter Preston
  79. Carter Reese
  80. Carter Remington
  81. Carter Richard
  82. Carter Robert
  83. Carter Rowan
  84. Carter Samuel
  85. Carter Sebastian
  86. Carter Seth
  87. Carter Spencer
  88. Carter Sullivan
  89. Carter Tatum
  90. Carter Trevor
  91. Carter Tyler
  92. Carter Vincent
  93. Carter Wade
  94. Carter Walker
  95. Carter Wellington
  96. Carter Wesley
  97. Carter Winston
  98. Carter Wyatt
  99. Carter Zeke
  100. Carter Zion
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How To Pick a Middle Name

Do You Need A Middle Name?

In short, no. You do not need to give your child a middle name.  You can choose to only give your child a first name and last name. There are no laws or requirements in regard to middle names.

However, according to research in the European Journal of Social Psychology, using middle initials in your name increases people’s perception of your intelligence.

Providing your child with a middle name will help differentiate them from others who share their same name. It also gives them a second option. Some children choose to go by their middle names instead of their first names as they grow older.

We all know how important it is to find the perfect name for our children. But did you know that in some cultures, middle names can be used as a way to give your child an additional identity? A new connection with their family history or heritage. 

Here we will explore the things you should consider when giving your children a middle name!

Family Names

A child’s middle name is a great way to honor a beloved family member. It could be someone who has passed or a living family member who means a lot to the parents. Middle names don’t need to be gender-specific, so this could be a good place to include male or female family members. 

Some parents like to include family surnames, such as the mother’s maiden name, as a middle name. This allows both sides of the family to pass down their name to the child. Any name that is meaningful to the family can make a nice middle name.

Flow and Initials

Probably the most important thing parents think of when choosing their child’s name is how it all sounds together. The first, middle, and last name should flow nicely together.

Many popular middle names are short, one or two syllable names because they pair well with most first names.

If family members speak another language or have an accent, take into consideration how everyone will be pronouncing the names when determining how they fit together

Monograms are popular in Southern culture, but it is still helpful to consider your child’s initials regardless of where you live.

Monograms for women are typically in the order of first name initial, large last name initial, and then middle name initial.

For men, the initials are usually in order of first, middle, and then last name. Avoid spelling out unfortunate words with the initials.

Middle names and their initials can also be used for nicknames. For example, Mary Elizabeth can be shortened to Mary Beth. Or, Elizabeth Zoe can be shortened to the initials E. Z. As a nickname. 

If you just can’t narrow it down to a first name and a middle name, you can always include multiple middle names. In the United States, most people only have one middle name, but it is common around the world to have two or more.

It is recommended not to add too many middle names though. Most paperwork only leaves a spot for a single middle name or initial and multiple names can lead to confusion.

Special Meanings

A child’s middle name is a great way to pay homage to anything that holds special meaning to the parents. Some inspiration for names includes:

  • Influential people in your life
  • Characters from books, movies, or television
  • Locations that hold memories
  • Languages that are important to the family
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First Name for Middle Name Carter or Karter

If you’re considering Carter as a middle name, we’ve gathered some great first name options that we adore.

  • Adonis Carter
  • Adrian Carter
  • Allen Carter
  • Ashton Carter
  • Augustus Carter
  • Austin Carter
  • Beau Carter
  • Blake Carter
  • Brady Carter
  • Braxton Carter
  • Brody Carter
  • Brooks Carter
  • Bryan Carter
  • Cameron Carter
  • Chase Carter
  • Christian Carter
  • Collin Carter
  • Damian Carter
  • Derek Carter
  • Desmond Carter
  • Dolton Carter
  • Dylan Carter
  • Easton Carter
  • Edward Carter
  • Elijah Carter
  • Emerson Carter
  • Forrest Carter
  • Frederick Carter
  • Gabriel Carter
  • Garrett Carter
  • Graham Carter
  • Grant Carter
  • Harrison Carter
  • Houston Carter
  • Huxley Carter
  • Isaac Carter
  • Ivan Carter
  • Jacob Carter
  • Jeremiah Carter
  • Joseph Carter
  • Julian Carter
  • Justin Carter
  • Kayden Carter
  • Kevin Carter
  • Kingston Carter
  • Landon Carter
  • Lorenzo Carter
  • Luis Carter
  • Luke Carter
  • Maddox Carter
  • Mason Carter
  • Maximus Carter
  • Michael Carter
  • Miles Carter
  • Milo Carter
  • Nash Carter
  • Nicholas Carter
  • Owen Carter
  • Paxton Carter
  • Peyton Carter
  • Phillip Carter
  • Presley Carter
  • Remy Carter
  • Richard Carter
  • Ryan Carter
  • Samuel Carter
  • Sebastian Carter
  • Sergio Carter
  • Silas Carter
  • Solomon Carter
  • Steven Carter
  • Tanner Carter
  • Theo Carter
  • Timothy Carter
  • Tristan Carter
  • Tucker Carter
  • Victor Carter
  • Walter Carter
  • Weston Carter
  • Wiley Carter
  • Wilson Carter
  • Wyatt Carter
  • Zachary Carter

Nicknames for Carter

  • Car
  • Cart
  • Cartier
  • Carty

Variations of Carter

  • Karter

Names Similar to Carter

  • Avery
  • Bennett
  • Blake
  • Brooks
  • Camden
  • Carson
  • Chase
  • Cole
  • Connor
  • Cooper
  • Dawson
  • Dylan
  • Elijah
  • Ethan
  • Gavin
  • Hudson
  • Hunter
  • Jackson
  • Landon
  • Liam
  • Logan
  • Mason
  • Mike
  • Owen
  • Parker
  • Peyton
  • Ryder
  • Sawyer
  • Tyler

Sibling Boy Names that go with Carter

  • Carter and Ashton
  • Carter and Brent
  • Carter and Briggs
  • Carter and Brooks
  • Carter and Dawson
  • Carter and Dylan
  • Carter and Evan
  • Carter and Everett
  • Carter and Hendrix
  • Carter and Jeffrey
  • Carter and Jeremy
  • Carter and Julius
  • Carter and Kaleb
  • Carter and Kenneth
  • Carter and Kyle
  • Carter and Landry
  • Carter and Levi
  • Carter and Logan
  • Carter and Maverick
  • Carter and Nicholas
  • Carter and Oliver
  • Carter and Parker
  • Carter and Raymond
  • Carter and Rhett
  • Carter and Simon

Sibling Girl Names that go with Carter

  • Carter and Ada
  • Carter and Alexa
  • Carter and Beth
  • Carter and Bridget
  • Carter and Charleigh
  • Carter and Cynthia 
  • Carter and Daphne
  • Carter and Elise
  • Carter and Eve
  • Carter and Frances
  • Carter and Gianna
  • Carter and Haven
  • Carter and Hope
  • Carter and Ivy
  • Carter and Juliet
  • Carter and Kaycee
  • Carter and Marissa
  • Carter and Nina
  • Carter and Paige
  • Carter and Piper
  • Carter and Sammie
  • Carter and Sara
  • Carter and Sophie
  • Carter and Taylor
  • Carter and Willa
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History of the Name Carter or Karter

During the 12th century, surnames were introduced as a way to identify and keep track of individuals. Occupational surnames were one that developed at this time. 

There are a couple theories as to exactly how the name Carter developed. 

One theory suggests that Carter came from Charer or Charman. These were two surnames that developed to mean “driver of a char.” Char is short for chariot. 

Another theory believes that Carter came from the Gaelic word cairtear which means “tourist.”

While some believe the name is an Irish reduced form of the name McCarter or the Scottis-Gaelic name Mac Artair. 

During the 19th century, the use of surnames as first names became very popular. According to the Social Security Administration, Carter has been on the baby naming charts since the government started recording.

Throughout the early 20th century, Carter declined on the popular naming charts and ended up falling off the list in 1978. It reappeared on the list in 1981 and began climbing up the charts again.

In 2004, Carter jumped into a top 100 boy’s name position and has stayed there since. As of 2021, Carter ranks as the 39th most popular boy’s name in the United States.   

The alternative spelling Karter first appeared on the baby naming charts in 2005 and quickly rose up the ranks. While not as popular as the spelling version Carter, Karter has consistently gained interest from parents. As of 2021, Karter ranks as the 200th most popular boy’s name in the United States. 

As a female given name, Carter and Karter appeared more recently on the popular baby naming charts. Carter showed up in 2013 and ranks as the 500th most popular girl’s name in 2021. Karter showed up in 2014 and ranks as the 862nd most popular girl’s name in 2021. 

Famous People with the Name Carter

Carter Beauford American drummer and founding member of the Dave Matthews Band
Carter Braxton American signer of the Declaration of Independence, representative of Virginia
Carter Burwell American composer of film soundtracks who has consistently worked with the Cohen brothers
Carter Camp American Indian Movement activist who played a leading role in the 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties
Carter Coughlin American football player for the New York Giants
Carter Jenkins American actor in the television series Surface
Carter O’Donnell American football player for the Indianapolis Colts
Carter Stanley American bluegrass musician and one of The Stanley Brothers

Fictional Characters Named Carter

Carter a character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise
Carter Grayson a character in the television series Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
Carter Hall a character in the Golden Age DC Comics
Carter Hayes a character in the film Pacific Heights
Carter Horton a character in the film series Final Destination
Carter Mason a character in the Disney Channel film Princess Protection Program
Carter Pewterschmidt a character in the animated series Family Guy
Carter Slade a character in the Marvel Comics known as Phantom Rider
Carter Stevens a character in the television series Finding Carter

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carter a boy or girl’s name?

Carter was traditionally given as a masculine name. Recently, in 2013, Carter appeared for the first time on the popular baby naming charts as a given girl’s name. Both Carter and Karter are seen as unisex names and given to both boys and girls.

Is Carter a biblical name?

No, Carter is not a name that is found in the bible and does not have any biblical ties. Carter was originally a surname that developed from an occupation.

How popular is the name Carter?

Carter has been a top 100 boy’s name in the United States since 2004. As of 2021, it ranks as the 39th most popular boy’s name. Carter as a girl’s name isn’t quite as popular, but continues to move up the ranks. In 2021, it ranked as the 500th most popular girl’s name. 

Final Thoughts on Middle Names for Carter

Carter is a calm, confident name that gives off a chill vibe. We are loving this name for a little boy that also works great for an adult.

If you’re thinking of naming your baby boy Carter, we hope our list of middle name ideas has been useful! 

MORE MIDDLE NAME IDEAS

Now that you’ve seen all the middle name ideas for Carter, you might want to check out some middle name ideas for these similar names!

If you’re looking for more middle name ideas, you can find all our lists in our Middle Names section.

For more baby name ideas and inspiration head over to our Baby Names section.  

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