Chad

Chad - A very unique male name

Chad appeared on the charts for the first time in 1917 on position #1615. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Chad and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Chad? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Chad. The baby boy name Chad was given to 36 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1946 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 40,730 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Chad peaked in popularity 54 years ago in 1972 on position 25.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Chad, 1-5?

Chad is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Chad is currently topping the baby name charts in Louisiana at position #600 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,673.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Chad is where you live.

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Chad origin and meaning

Old English

From the Old English personal name Ceadda, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly Celtic

Chad was the name of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon saint, St Chad of Mercia, and survived as a rare name before exploding in the 1960s-70s — peaking in 1972 at over 13,000 births. It has since fallen steeply, and the name also carries country-name and internet-slang baggage. The saint's name itself may be Celtic in origin, but that is not proven.

Origin uncertain

Chad is a 4 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Chad, pop culture references for the name Chad and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Chad

We've found the following names that sound similar to Chad, sorted by popularity.

Cody / Cade / Coty / Chet / Codey / Cassidy / Codie / Chadd / Cayde / Codi /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Chad

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Chad a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Chad?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

CHAD · /tʃæd/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Chadd — A doubled-letter respelling

Nicknames: Chaddy

Famous bearers

• Chad Michael Murray — Actor known for One Tree Hill and A Cinderella Story (b. 1981) Contemporary
• Chad Johnson — NFL wide receiver, known as Chad Ochocinco for part of his career (b. 1978) Contemporary

Style

Classic

Why parents choose it

Parents choosing Chad today are usually honouring a family member from its 1970s heyday rather than following a trend.

Worth knowing

• 1970s-dated at its peak and now falling; 'Chad' is also internet slang for a stereotypical alpha male, and the name of an African country.