Chad
Boy name · #1702 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Chad? In official American birth records, Chad has been tracked continuously since 1914, giving it 111 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 96 baby boys were named Chad, placing it at #1702 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #760, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,750 boys born in 2025 was named Chad.
Babies named Chad per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 111-year story
Chad first appears in the Social Security records in 1914, when 11 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1972, when 13,392 boys were named Chad — good for #25 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Chad against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Chad in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Chad is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Chad will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Chad is most common
State-level data for Chad is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Chad
Statistically, parents drawn to Chad tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Clint, Clifton, Jed, Brent, and Chet.
ClintCliftonJedBrentChetJuddClintonCraig
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Chad | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 96 | #1699 |
| 2024 | 90 | #1809 |
| 2023 | 108 | #1608 |
| 2022 | 132 | #1403 |
| 2021 | 158 | #1218 |
| 2020 | 150 | #1240 |
| 2019 | 175 | #1118 |
| 2018 | 241 | #899 |
| 2017 | 220 | #947 |
| 2016 | 291 | #799 |
| 2015 | 314 | #760 |
| 2014 | 346 | #704 |
| 2013 | 358 | #674 |
| 2012 | 434 | #589 |
| 2011 | 439 | #569 |
| 2010 | 463 | #545 |
| 2009 | 529 | #509 |
| 2008 | 613 | #452 |
| 2007 | 659 | #431 |
| 2006 | 799 | #373 |
| 2005 | 767 | #377 |
| 2004 | 828 | #343 |
| 2003 | 861 | #334 |
| 2002 | 928 | #309 |
| 2001 | 1,079 | #283 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Chad?
In official American birth records, the name Chad first appeared in 1914 (over 111 years ago), when 11 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 111 years.
Is Chad a popular boy name?
Chad ranked #1702 among boys in 2025 with 96 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #760.
When was the name Chad most popular?
Chad peaked in 1972, when 13,392 American boys received the name (ranked #25 that year). Since 1972 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Chad?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,750 newborn American boys was named Chad. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.