Cheney: 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	15	26	41	4	–	#7,416
1980s	23	12	35	4	-15%	#9,765
1990s	71	36	107	11	+206%	#6,697
2000s	89	34	123	12	+15%	#5,226
2010s	11	16	27	3	-78%	#15,371
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#7,416

1980s

-15%

#9,765

1990s

107

+206%

#6,697

2000s

123

+15%

#5,226

2010s

-78%

#15,371

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Cheney

Cheney 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 1970, 333 American babies have been named Cheney, about 63% girls and 37% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2001, when 31 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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

How old are people named Cheney?

The median living Cheney is about 28 years old; half are between 22 and 35. An estimated 300 people named Cheney 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.

Cheney 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	–	–	5	#12,502
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	5	#12,539
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	6	#10,967
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	5	#17,336	–	–
2010	6	#15,371	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	6	#11,302
2007	5	#18,204	–	–
2006	8	#12,660	–	–
2005	12	#9,016	–	–
2004	11	#9,389	6	#10,177
2003	9	#10,611	–	–
2002	12	#8,402	8	#7,766
2001	22	#5,226	9	#7,017
2000	10	#9,305	5	#10,636
1995	6	#12,076	–	–
1990	8	#9,426	5	#8,323
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	8	#3,565
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Cheney?

The median living Cheney is about 28 years old. Half of all living Cheneys are between 22 and 35 years old.

How many people named Cheney are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Cheney are alive in the United States, based on 333 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Cheney in 2025?

Cheney 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 Cheney?

333 babies have been named Cheney in the United States since 1970, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cheney most popular?

Cheney peaked in 2001, when 31 newborns received the name.

Is Cheney a boy or girl name?

Cheney is used for both: about 63% of babies named Cheney have been girls and 37% boys.

Is the name Cheney rising or falling?

Cheney has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Cheney

Cheney popularity over time

The story of Cheney

How old are people named Cheney?

Cheney year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Cheney