| Carter | Jackson | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Cart driver | Son of Jack |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KAR-ter | JAK-sun |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1881 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2015 (10,814) | 2013 (12,610) |
| In 2025 | 6,024 | 6,582 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Carter | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 39,334 | 47,360 |
| 2010s | 95,261 | 116,264 |
| 2000s | 52,320 | 94,488 |
| 1990s | 9,725 | 23,595 |
| 1980s | 1,680 | 3,224 |
| 1970s | 1,359 | 1,580 |
| 1960s | 1,345 | 992 |
| 1950s | 1,612 | 1,347 |
| 1940s | 1,340 | 1,791 |
| 1930s | 863 | 1,713 |
| 1920s | 881 | 2,327 |
| 1910s | 680 | 1,453 |
| 1900s | 199 | 404 |
| 1890s | 134 | 311 |
| 1880s | 100 | 371 |
Carter is an English occupational surname for one who drives or makes carts.
Jackson is an English surname meaning “son of Jack (John).” Associated with figures such as President Andrew Jackson, it has surged as a first name in recent decades.
Jackson is more popular than Carter today: about 6,582 US babies were given the name Jackson in 2025, compared with 6,024 named Carter.
Carter means Cart driver (English origin), while Jackson means Son of Jack (English origin).
In US records, Carter first appears in 1881 and Jackson in 1880, so Jackson has the longer recorded history.