Chief: 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	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	5	1	–	#4,264
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	31	3	–	#9,133
2010s	148	15	+377%	#3,911
2020s (to 2025)	164	27	+85%	#3,283

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#4,264

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

#9,133

2010s

148

+377%

#3,911

2020s (to 2025)

164

+85%

#3,283

The story of Chief

Chief is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,903 in 2025 with 15 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1919, 348 American babies have been named Chief. Its peak came in 2020, when 34 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2020s.

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

How old are people named Chief?

The median living Chief is about 6 years old; half are between 3 and 10. An estimated 300 people named Chief 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.

Chief year by year

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

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	15	#5,903
2024	26	#4,097
2023	30	#3,729
2022	27	#4,005
2021	32	#3,512
2020	34	#3,283
2019	27	#3,911
2018	20	#4,775
2017	20	#4,772
2016	17	#5,359
2015	17	#5,337
2014	17	#5,291
2013	13	#6,311
2012	9	#8,278
2011	8	#8,902
2010	–	–
2009	8	#9,133
2008	6	#11,306
2007	6	#11,159
2006	5	#12,365
2005	6	#10,331
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
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 Chief, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Chief?

The median living Chief is about 6 years old. Half of all living Chiefs are between 3 and 10 years old.

How many people named Chief are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Chief are alive in the United States, based on 348 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Chief in 2025?

Chief ranked #5,903 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 15 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Chief?

348 babies have been named Chief in the United States since 1919, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Chief most popular?

Chief peaked in 2020, when 34 newborns received the name.

Is Chief a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Chief rising or falling?

Chief is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Chief?

Well-known people named Chief include Chief Keef (singer).

Chief

Chief popularity over time

The story of Chief

How old are people named Chief?

Chief year by year

Famous people named Chief

Frequently asked questions

Names like Chief