Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1977

Chico

Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

A diminutive of the male given name Francisco, from Portuguese.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Chico
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1977
56 babies
All-time total
951
#5,296 all-time among boys
First recorded
1922
in Social Security records

Chico popularity over time

951 babies have been named Chico since 1922, 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
0.010.020.030.0418801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1977Boys

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 11 1 – #3,779
1930s 21 2 +91% #2,900
1940s 26 3 +24% #2,975
1950s 108 11 +315% #1,775
1960s 105 11 -3% #2,155
1970s 320 32 +205% #1,179
1980s 147 15 -54% #1,914
1990s 116 12 -21% #3,804
2000s 78 8 -33% #4,709
2010s 12 1 -85% #9,893
2020s (to 2025) 7 1 -3% #9,759

The story of Chico

Chico 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 1922, 951 American babies have been named Chico. Its peak came in 1977, when 56 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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

How old are people named Chico?

The median living Chico is about 48 years old; half are between 35 and 54. An estimated 800 people named Chico are alive in the United States today.

median 48 020406080100

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

Chico year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 7 #9,759
2019 5 #12,507
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 7 #9,893
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 8 #9,132
2008 – –
2007 5 #12,688
2006 8 #8,868
2005 9 #7,744
2004 7 #9,104
2003 10 #6,814
2002 6 #9,577
2001 16 #4,709
2000 9 #6,932
1995 11 #5,186
1990 15 #3,804
1985 9 #4,384
1980 29 #1,914
1975 37 #1,457
1970 20 #2,005
1965 7 #3,288
1960 8 #3,131
1955 16 #1,983
1950 – –
1945 6 #3,041
1940 – –
1935 6 #3,321
1930 7 #3,338
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Chico

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

  1. 1 Chico Marx Chico Marx American comedian (1887–1961) 19th century
  2. 2 Chico Buarque Chico Buarque Brazilian singer-songwriter (born 1944) Contemporary
  3. 3 Chico Mendes Chico Mendes Brazilian trade union leader and environmentalist (1944–1988) Contemporary
  4. 4 Chico Xavier Chico Xavier Spiritualist and philanthropist from Brazil (1910–2002) Contemporary
  5. 5 Chico Hamilton Chico Hamilton American jazz drummer and bandleader (1921–2013) Contemporary
  6. 6 Chico Serra Chico Serra Brazilian racing driver (born 1957) Contemporary
  7. 7 Chico Landi Brazilian racing driver (1907–1989) Contemporary
  8. 8 Chicão Topics referred to by the same term 1949–2008 · Contemporary
  9. 9 Chico Chico Spanish footballer (born 1987) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Chico?

The median living Chico is about 48 years old. Half of all living Chicos are between 35 and 54 years old.

How many people named Chico are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Chico are alive in the United States, based on 951 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Chico mean?

A diminutive of the male given name Francisco, from Portuguese.

How popular is the name Chico in 2025?

Chico 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 Chico?

951 babies have been named Chico in the United States since 1922, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Chico most popular?

Chico peaked in 1977, when 56 newborns received the name.

Is Chico a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Chico rising or falling?

Chico has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Chico?

Well-known people named Chico include Chico Marx (actor), Chico Buarque (musician), Chico Mendes (social activist).

Names like Chico

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

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