Chester

Chester - A very unique male name

Chester appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #61. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Chester and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Chester? 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 Chester. The baby boy name Chester was given to 53 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1659 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 27,666 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Chester peaked in popularity 107 years ago in 1919 on position 53.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Chester, 1-5?

Chester is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Chester is currently topping the baby name charts in Wisconsin at position #490 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,780.

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 Chester is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Chester origin and meaning

English — place name and surname

Roman fort; walled town — from Old English ceaster, used in place names for old Roman settlements

Chester is a city and surname name built on the Old English word for a Roman fort, and as a first name it was an American staple into the 1920s. It has lately ticked upward as shaggy vintage names come back, Chet and all.

Attested etymology

Chester is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Chester

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

Cedar / Cutter / Chidera / Castor / Custer /

---

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 Chester

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 Chester 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 Chester?

2 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.

---

Pronunciation

CHES-ter · /ˈtʃɛstər/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

Nicknames: Chet

Famous bearers

• Chester Bennington — Singer of Linkin Park (1976–2017) Contemporary
• Chester A. Arthur — 21st President of the United States (1829–1886) Historical

Style

Place nameSurnameClassicVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Chester for a rumpled, friendly vintage name with the easy short form Chet — old-fashioned in a way that now feels fresh.

Worth knowing

• Cheetos' Chester Cheetah and a general 'grandpa' image are the hurdles; some hear it as a dog's name.