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