Boy Names Like Carter
- Ryland
Origin:
Old EnglishMeaning:
"place where Rye is grown"Description:
Similar to popular Riley and Ryan and the origin of Rylan, this Old English surname has been in the US Top 1000 since the early 2000s. While it has declined in recent years, it was still given to around 360 boys in 2024 — and to 30 girls.
- Truman
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"loyal one"Description:
Truman is an upstanding presidential name that radiates an aura of integrity and moral truth, values any parent would want for a child. It seems definitely headed for a revival.
- Dutton
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"hill settlement; Dodd's town"Description:
The newest cowboy-cool kid on the block is Dutton, introduced by the hit Western drama series Yellowstone. It's seen as a surname in the series, which follows the Dutton family on their ranch. But Americans' affinity towards surname names and the similarities to Sutton have inspired fans of the show to use Dutton for their sons — so much so that Dutton took the title as the fastest-rising name in 2022, jumping a whopping 986 spots.
- Carver
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wood carver"Description:
Carver is an occupational name with an artistic bent, associated with wood carving predominantly, though it could also be linked to those who carve from stone, marble, ice, and pumpkins. More familiar that the equally arty Painter, but fresher than the 90s style Carter, Carver has received more interest in recent years.
- Potter
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"maker of drinking and storage vessels"Description:
Could join such up-and-comers as Miller and Gardener, though the "potty" and Harry Potter associations are strong and potentially unappealing these days.
- Schuyler
Origin:
DutchMeaning:
"scholar"Description:
This worthy name, imported by the early Dutch colonists, has been all but overpowered by the phonetic spellings -- Skyler for boys and Skylar for girls. With the surnames-as-first-names trend, however, and the popularity of the Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical Hamilton, which features the Schuyler sisters, perhaps Schuyler might receive some more interest in the coming years.
- Judson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Jordan"Description:
Judson remained in the US Top 1000 every year until it dropped off in 1987. In 2014, the named rejoined the list. With Hudson gaining in popularity, Judson—a possible alternative to Justin—could follow its path.
- Fielder
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller in open country"Description:
An uncommon surname name with that energetic -er ending. Might appeal especially to baseball fans.
- Collier
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"coal miner"Description:
This occupational surname could find new life with those wishing to honor someone in their heritage who was connected to the tough-as-nails breed that was the pre-modern coal miner. Coll and Collie are some sweet nickname options to tone down the formality of this name.
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