Ryan vs Carter

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ryan

Boy #87 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"little king"

Origin: Irish Gaelic (O'Riain)

Irish English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #45 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"One who transports goods by cart; cart driver"

Origin: English

English American Scottish

✓ All Clear

Ryan Rank #87

Carter Rank #45

Carter is more popular, ranked #45 vs #87 for Ryan.

Is Ryan or Carter more popular?

Carter is more popular, ranked #45 compared to Ryan at #87 in the United States.

What do Ryan and Carter mean?

Ryan means "little king" (Irish Gaelic (O'Riain) origin). Carter means "One who transports goods by cart; cart driver" (English origin).

Are Ryan and Carter boy or girl names?

Ryan is primarily a boy name. Carter is primarily a boy name.