Chao: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	86	86	9	–	#2,821
1980s	25	141	166	17	+93%	#2,729
1990s	11	46	57	6	-66%	#4,268
2000s	–	6	6	1	-89%	#9,275
2010s	–	5	5	1	-17%	#12,468
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#2,821

1980s

141

166

+93%

#2,729

1990s

-66%

#4,268

2000s

–

-89%

#9,275

2010s

–

-17%

#12,468

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Chao

Chao is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1971, 320 American babies have been named Chao, about 89% boys and 11% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1985, when 26 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Chao stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Chao?

The median living Chao is about 40 years old; half are between 36 and 46. An estimated 300 people named Chao are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Chao 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	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	5	#12,468
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	6	#9,275
1995	–	–	6	#7,958
1990	6	#11,661	9	#5,449
1985	8	#7,682	18	#2,729
1980	–	–	11	#3,653
1975	–	–	11	#3,277
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Chao, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Chao?

The median living Chao is about 40 years old. Half of all living Chaos are between 36 and 46 years old.

How many people named Chao are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Chao are alive in the United States, based on 320 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Chao in 2025?

Chao did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Chao?

320 babies have been named Chao in the United States since 1971, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Chao most popular?

Chao peaked in 1985, when 26 newborns received the name.

Is Chao a boy or girl name?

Chao is used for both: about 11% of babies named Chao have been girls and 89% boys.

Is the name Chao rising or falling?

Chao is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Chao

Chao popularity over time

The story of Chao

How old are people named Chao?

Chao year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Chao