Carter vs Nathan
Carter and Nathancompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Carter was ranked #30 and Nathan #70 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2018, Carter was ranked #60 and Nathan #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Carter was ranked #72 and Nathan #62 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Carter was ranked #317 and Nathan #71 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Carter was ranked #103 and Nathan #88 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Carter was ranked #114 and Nathan #118 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Carter and Nathan over time
Carter and Nathan appear together in 4 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Carter in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Nathan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Carter in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Carter moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2014 as Nathan fell out of it to #52, having been #37 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2014, Carter moved ahead of Nathan in New Zealand · Boys — #41 and #37 the year before became #34 and #52.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carter and Nathan changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #114 and #118.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Carter held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nathan in 22.
Highest recorded here: Carter #60 in 2018, Nathan #24 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carter #103, Nathan #88.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Carter held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nathan in 21.
Highest recorded here: Carter #53 in 2013, Nathan #15 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carter #114, Nathan #118.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 2006–2023
Carter held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Nathan in 8.
Highest recorded here: Carter #21 in 2015, Nathan #27 in 2006.
The order changed in 2014: Carter moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #41 and #37; by 2014 that had become #34 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Carter #30, Nathan #70.
Republic of Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2009–2025
Carter held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Carter #113 in 2019, Nathan #26 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Carter #317, Nathan #71.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Carter | Nathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'he gave' or 'he has given'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈneɪθən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #70 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nathan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Carter does not have one recorded yet.
- Carter and Nathan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nathan; Carter doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Carter
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #755 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2006–2023
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in New Zealand, in 2015 (recorded 2006–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #70 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Nathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #267 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2018
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1981 (recorded 1969–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #344 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys