| Jack | Carter | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is gracious | Cart driver |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | JAK | KAR-ter |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1881 |
| Peak year | 1927 (12,802) | 2015 (10,814) |
| In 2025 | 8,748 | 6,024 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Jack | Carter |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 53,384 | 39,334 |
| 2010s | 85,695 | 95,261 |
| 2000s | 95,512 | 52,320 |
| 1990s | 37,501 | 9,725 |
| 1980s | 15,944 | 1,680 |
| 1970s | 18,562 | 1,359 |
| 1960s | 35,593 | 1,345 |
| 1950s | 62,387 | 1,612 |
| 1940s | 73,919 | 1,340 |
| 1930s | 96,396 | 863 |
| 1920s | 115,983 | 881 |
| 1910s | 49,526 | 680 |
| 1900s | 9,222 | 199 |
| 1890s | 4,635 | 134 |
| 1880s | 2,684 | 100 |
Jack began as a medieval pet form of John and grew so common it became a word for “man” (as in “every man Jack”). Now a name in its own right, it is one of the most popular boys’ names in Britain and Ireland.
Carter is an English occupational surname for one who drives or makes carts.
Jack is more popular than Carter today: about 8,748 US babies were given the name Jack in 2025, compared with 6,024 named Carter.
Jack means God is gracious (English origin), while Carter means Cart driver (English origin).
In US records, Jack first appears in 1880 and Carter in 1881, so Jack has the longer recorded history.