Colter

A variation on the popular Colton, Colter has been climbing up the US charts since 2010. Given to around 1000 boys each year, it is now in the Top 500, and ticks the boxes for being a cool occupational name with rugged, Wild West vibes, and for giving the familiar nickname Col, or the alternative, Colt.

Parents choosing Colter might like it as an honor name for a Colin or an alternative to popular Carter, but its a name with some interesting history too. 19th century explorer John Colter was considered the first mountain man, spending months living in the wilderness, exploring what is now known as Yellowstone National Park and taking part in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Several places in the US are named after him, including Colter Peak and Colter's Hell.

Fans of Philip Pullman's The Northern Lights might also think of the character, Mrs. Coulter.

Pronounced KOL-ter.

As of October 2026, Colter ranked #157 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #675.