Carver

Carver for girls#6899 US

While some may read the "carver" meaning as creative and artistic, others may find it a little grisly and violent, but there is a way around this association if you love the sound or it's a family surname. It may also have its origins in the Norman French caruier meaning "wagon, cart" which could feel more neutral.

In a recent year, Carver was given to 11 girls, compared to 120 boys, however, celebs Amanda Marie Mizell and JJ Mizell named their daughter Carver Christine in 2025, which may put Carver on more people's radar.

Carver for boys#1499 US

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.

As a last name, it has eminent links to botanist and educator George Washington Carver and to short story master Raymond Carver. As a given name, Carver appears as a character in the R. D. Blackmore classic Lorna Doone. and has been borne by computer scientist Carver Mead and former football player Carver Shannon.

In the US, it has steadily been gaining popularity since the 2000s and in a recent year it was given to 126 boys — and to 9 girls.