Chad
From Middle English Chadde, from Old English Ċeadda, of obscure meaning; name of a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon saint, revived in the 20th century.
Every Chad since 1914 — 241,767 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Chad
Chad is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,701 in 2025 with 96 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1914, 241,767 American babies have been named Chad. Its peak came in 1972, when 13,441 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Chad stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Chad year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 96 | #1,701 |
| 2024 | — | — | 90 | #1,810 |
| 2023 | — | — | 108 | #1,611 |
| 2022 | — | — | 132 | #1,404 |
| 2021 | — | — | 158 | #1,218 |
| 2020 | — | — | 150 | #1,241 |
| 2019 | — | — | 175 | #1,118 |
| 2018 | — | — | 241 | #899 |
| 2017 | — | — | 220 | #948 |
| 2016 | — | — | 291 | #799 |
| 2015 | — | — | 314 | #760 |
| 2014 | — | — | 346 | #705 |
| 2013 | — | — | 358 | #674 |
| 2012 | — | — | 434 | #589 |
| 2011 | — | — | 439 | #570 |
| 2010 | — | — | 463 | #545 |
| 2009 | — | — | 529 | #509 |
| 2008 | — | — | 613 | #452 |
| 2007 | — | — | 659 | #431 |
| 2006 | — | — | 799 | #373 |
| 2005 | — | — | 767 | #377 |
| 2004 | 6 | #14,522 | 828 | #343 |
| 2003 | — | — | 861 | #334 |
| 2002 | — | — | 928 | #309 |
| 2001 | — | — | 1,079 | #283 |
| 2000 | — | — | 1,453 | #236 |
| 1995 | 5 | #13,804 | 2,434 | #144 |
| 1990 | 6 | #11,648 | 4,351 | #85 |
| 1985 | 50 | #2,107 | 6,466 | #57 |
| 1980 | 35 | #2,659 | 10,142 | #39 |
| 1975 | 63 | #1,574 | 12,838 | #27 |
| 1970 | 25 | #2,787 | 6,628 | #51 |
| 1965 | — | — | 1,172 | #209 |
| 1960 | — | — | 255 | #494 |
| 1955 | — | — | 235 | #477 |
| 1950 | — | — | 66 | #838 |
| 1945 | — | — | 40 | #1,007 |
| 1940 | — | — | 23 | #1,408 |
| 1935 | — | — | 22 | #1,457 |
| 1930 | — | — | 8 | #3,063 |
| 1925 | — | — | 10 | #2,782 |
| 1920 | — | — | 10 | #2,802 |
| 1915 | — | — | 5 | #3,916 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Chad
- Chad Michael Murray Actor · b. 1981
- Chad Everett Actor · 1937–2012
- Chad Kroeger Singer · b. 1974
- Chad of Mercia Religious figure · 634–672
- Chad Hurley Businessperson · b. 1977
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Chad mean?
From Middle English Chadde, from Old English Ċeadda, of obscure meaning; name of a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon saint, revived in the 20th century.
How popular is the name Chad in 2025?
Chad ranked #1,701 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 96 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Chad?
241,767 babies have been named Chad in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Chad most popular?
Chad peaked in 1972, when 13,441 newborns received the name.
Is Chad a boy or girl name?
Chad is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Chad rising or falling?
Chad is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Chad?
Well-known people named Chad include Chad Michael Murray (actor), Chad Everett (actor), Chad Kroeger (singer).