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At a Glance: Name: Colter – Meaning: one who herds young horses (colt-herder) – Origin: English (occupational surname) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: KOHL-tur
Colter (pronounced KOHL-tur) is an English occupational surname meaning "one who herds young horses" — a colt-herder. You may see it glossed elsewhere as "young servant," but that doesn't match the more straightforward surname derivation, and likely comes from confusion with an unrelated word. It's in the timeless, classic style, within the classic era group.
Meaning & Origin of Colter
Meaning: One who herds young horses (colt-herder).
Origin: English (occupational surname).
A common claim: Sometimes glossed as 'young servant.' Actually: Doesn't match the more transparent surname derivation ('colt-herder', one who tends young horses); 'young servant' may reflect confusion with an unrelated word.
How to Pronounce Colter
Phonetic: KOHL-tur IPA: /ˈkoʊltər/
Popularity of Colter
SSA records for Colter run from 1971 to 2024, and its high point so far came in that most recent year, when it ranked #218 with 1,643 boys given the name.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1971–2024.
Make Colter Name Art
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Colter mean?
One who herds young horses (colt-herder).
How do you pronounce Colter?
Colter is pronounced KOHL-tur (IPA: /ˈkoʊltər/).
Is Colter a popular name right now?
Colter is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #218 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1971–2024.)
📊 How popular is Colter? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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