Holding steady.
Popularity of Carr since 1913
Babies named Carr per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1940, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Carr's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 31 |
| 1920s | 32 |
| 1930s | 25 |
| 1940s | 16 |
| 1950s | 31 |
| 1960s | 36 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 12 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
The name Carr is a rare given name with origins as a surname meaning 'rock' or 'fortress' from Old Norse and Gaelic roots. It first entered U.S. birth records in 1913, which also marked its peak year of usage; the name has never ranked in the top 1000 and remains relatively stable in its obscurity. With a one-in-N popularity statistic that is not available due to its extreme rarity, Carr is a distinctive choice for parents seeking a short, strong surname-style name with a rugged, geographical meaning. Its top states are not recorded, indicating usage spread thinly across the country. Carr's trajectory is stable, meaning it has not experienced a recent revival or decline, making it a consistently uncommon name.
Carr originates as a topographic surname for someone who lived near a rocky place, from the Old Norse 'kjarr' meaning 'rock' or 'fortress'. In Scotland and northern England, it also derives from the Gaelic 'càrr', meaning 'rough land' or 'marsh'. The name was brought to Ireland during the Norman invasion and later anglicized from various Gaelic surnames. As a given name, Carr saw modest use in the early 20th century, particularly in the 1910s.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Car, Karr, Carrs
Sibling names for Carr
Names that share Carr's style, for a brother or sister.
