Boy · #10,599 in 2026

Carpenter

Carpenter is a surname. Its use as a forename or middle name is rare. Within the United States, it ranked as the 231st-most common surname as of the 2010 census. The English meaning of carpenter is the occupation of one who makes wooden objects and structures by shaping wood.

Current Rank
#10,599
Peak Rank
#8,816 (2018)
Total Babies
29
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2006
First Year
2020
Last Year
2018
Peak Year
#8816
Peak Rank
29
Total Count
5
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Carpenter

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Carpenter is a surname. Its use as a forename or middle name is rare. Within the United States, it ranked as the 231st-most common surname as of the 2010 census. The English meaning of carpenter is the occupation of one who makes wooden objects and structures by shaping wood.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Common use of the Carpenter surname in the English language is seen circa 1275–1325 in Middle English . Its use prior to this time as a surname has roots in the Anglo-Norman French introduced into England about the time of the Norman conquest of England of 1066. The earliest attested use as a surname in English is from 1121, though its use as a secondary name or description in the Domesday Book of 1086 might have precedence. In Old French , the surname was commonly written as "Carpentier" and its earlier form as "Charpentier". Its use as a surname may have derived as a nickname or description

The Story of Carpenter

Carpenter first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2006, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2018, when 8 Carpenters were born — ranking #8,816 that year. As of 2026, Carpenter ranks #10,599 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 29 Carpenters have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Carpenter

Phonetically similar names — useful when Carpenter is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Carpentry
  • Carpenters
  • Carpentier
  • Carbonator
  • Carpet
  • Current
  • Karpen
  • Carpentering
  • Carpeta
  • Coroner
  • Coriander
  • Coronor

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Carpenter

What does the name Carpenter mean?
Carpenter is a surname. Its use as a forename or middle name is rare. Within the United States, it ranked as the 231st-most common surname as of the 2010 census. The English meaning of carpenter is the occupation of one who makes wooden objects and structures by shaping wood.
How popular is Carpenter in 2026?
In 2026, Carpenter ranks #10,599 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Carpenter most popular?
Carpenter reached its peak popularity in 2018, ranking #8,816 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Carpenter a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Carpenter is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Carpenter?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Carpenter include Ero, Talion, Abdullatif. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Ero
Peak #8816
👦
Talion
Peak #8816
👦
Abdullatif
Peak #8816
👦
Nimit
Peak #8816
👦
Devendra
Peak #8816
👦
Slone
Peak #8816
👦
Ihsaan
Peak #8816
👦
Rahi
Peak #8816

About the name Carpenter

Carpenter is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2006 and has accumulated 29 births in the dataset. Carpenter's peak popularity came in 2018 when it ranked #8,816. Use the chart and map above to compare Carpenter's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.