Chau: 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	30	18	48	5	–	#6,123
1980s	158	75	233	23	+385%	#3,630
1990s	91	14	105	11	-55%	#5,605
2000s	65	–	65	7	-38%	#7,670
2010s	33	–	33	3	-49%	#10,604
2020s (to 2025)	12	–	12	2	-39%	#12,517

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#6,123

1980s

158

233

+385%

#3,630

1990s

105

-55%

#5,605

2000s

–

-38%

#7,670

2010s

–

-49%

#10,604

2020s (to 2025)

–

-39%

#12,517

The story of Chau

Chau 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 1975, 496 American babies have been named Chau, about 78% girls and 22% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1982, when 35 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 Chau stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Chau?

The median living Chau is about 37 years old; half are between 28 and 42. An estimated 500 people named Chau 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.

Chau 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	7	#12,517	–	–
2021	5	#15,743	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	6	#14,519	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	6	#14,895	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	6	#15,018	–	–
2012	10	#10,604	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	5	#17,577	–	–
2009	11	#10,120	–	–
2008	6	#15,801	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	5	#17,685	–	–
2005	7	#13,306	–	–
2004	5	#16,637	–	–
2003	5	#16,269	–	–
2002	8	#11,342	–	–
2001	5	#15,835	–	–
2000	13	#7,670	–	–
1995	11	#7,612	–	–
1990	16	#5,605	–	–
1985	22	#3,754	12	#3,628
1980	22	#3,630	–	–
1975	5	#9,300	–	–
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 Chau, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Chau?

The median living Chau is about 37 years old. Half of all living Chaus are between 28 and 42 years old.

How many people named Chau are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Chau are alive in the United States, based on 496 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Chau in 2025?

Chau 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 Chau?

496 babies have been named Chau in the United States since 1975, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Chau most popular?

Chau peaked in 1982, when 35 newborns received the name.

Is Chau a boy or girl name?

Chau is used for both: about 78% of babies named Chau have been girls and 22% boys.

Is the name Chau rising or falling?

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

Chau

Chau popularity over time

The story of Chau

How old are people named Chau?

Chau year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Chau