Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2012

Chetan

Meaning Borrowed from Sanskrit चेतन (cetana) Gender Boy Rank 2025 #12,392

Borrowed from Sanskrit चेतन (cetana).

Rank 2025
#12,392
among boys
Babies in 2025
5
named Chetan
How common
1 in 341,615
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2012
21 babies
All-time total
478
#8,125 all-time among boys
First recorded
1972
in Social Security records

Chetan popularity over time

478 babies have been named Chetan since 1972, 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
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2012Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s 50 5 – #3,432
1980s 92 9 +84% #2,965
1990s 58 6 -37% #5,601
2000s 115 12 +98% #4,926
2010s 123 12 +7% #4,565
2020s (to 2025) 40 7 -46% #6,553

The story of Chetan

Chetan is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #12,392 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1972, 478 American babies have been named Chetan. Its peak came in 2012, when 21 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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

How old are people named Chetan?

The median living Chetan is about 20 years old; half are between 13 and 37. An estimated 500 people named Chetan are alive in the United States today.

median 20 020406080100

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

Chetan year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 5 #12,392
2024 – –
2023 6 #11,081
2022 13 #6,553
2021 5 #12,481
2020 11 #7,121
2019 5 #12,504
2018 9 #8,283
2017 8 #9,003
2016 10 #7,696
2015 9 #8,159
2014 15 #5,775
2013 12 #6,678
2012 21 #4,565
2011 16 #5,468
2010 18 #5,080
2009 13 #6,495
2008 16 #5,532
2007 16 #5,474
2006 15 #5,567
2005 13 #5,924
2004 10 #7,061
2003 10 #6,813
2002 7 #8,609
2001 15 #4,926
2000 – –
1995 7 #7,111
1990 – –
1985 16 #2,965
1980 15 #2,981
1975 7 #4,391
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Chetan

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Chetan Bhagat Chetan Bhagat Indian celebrity columnist (born 1974) Contemporary
  2. 2 Chetan Anand Chetan Anand Hindi film producer, screenwriter and director (1921–1997) 1915–1997 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Chetan?

The median living Chetan is about 20 years old. Half of all living Chetans are between 13 and 37 years old.

How many people named Chetan are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Chetan are alive in the United States, based on 478 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Chetan mean?

Borrowed from Sanskrit चेतन (cetana).

How popular is the name Chetan in 2025?

Chetan ranked #12,392 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Chetan?

478 babies have been named Chetan in the United States since 1972, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Chetan most popular?

Chetan peaked in 2012, when 21 newborns received the name.

Is Chetan a boy or girl name?

Chetan is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Chetan rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Chetan?

Well-known people named Chetan include Chetan Bhagat (writer), Chetan Anand (film director).

Names like Chetan

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

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