Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1985

Chela

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Chela
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1985
79 babies
All-time total
474
#12,257 all-time among girls
First recorded
1955
in Social Security records

Chela popularity over time

474 babies have been named Chela since 1955, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.030.040.0518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1985Girls

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 Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s 6 1 – #5,308
1960s 6 1 0% #6,749
1970s 84 8 +1300% #4,660
1980s 185 19 +120% #1,537
1990s 113 11 -39% #6,003
2000s 69 7 -39% #9,303
2010s 11 1 -84% #15,235
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Chela

Chela 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 1955, 474 American babies have been named Chela. Its peak came in 1985, when 79 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 Chela stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Chela?

The median living Chela is about 39 years old; half are between 29 and 42. An estimated 500 people named Chela are alive in the United States today.

median 39 020406080100

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

Chela year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 6 #15,235
2010 5 #17,579
2009 5 #17,886
2008 6 #15,803
2007 – –
2006 9 #11,633
2005 6 #14,863
2004 7 #13,040
2003 6 #14,226
2002 10 #9,646
2001 10 #9,521
2000 10 #9,303
1995 14 #6,324
1990 12 #6,948
1985 79 #1,537
1980 6 #9,284
1975 5 #9,308
1970 5 #8,177
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 6 #5,308
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Chela?

The median living Chela is about 39 years old. Half of all living Chelas are between 29 and 42 years old.

How many people named Chela are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Chela are alive in the United States, based on 474 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Chela in 2025?

Chela 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 Chela?

474 babies have been named Chela in the United States since 1955, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Chela most popular?

Chela peaked in 1985, when 79 newborns received the name.

Is Chela a boy or girl name?

Chela is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Chela rising or falling?

Chela has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Chela

Names that sound and feel close to Chela: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Chela with similar names → More names starting with C →