Chance
Boy name · #442 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
Chance ranks #442 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 711 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #250, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,532 boys born in 2025 was named Chance.
Babies named Chance per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 142-year story
Chance first appears in the Social Security records in 1883, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1996, when 2,243 boys were named Chance — good for #154 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Chance against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Chance in class?
Chance scores 66 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Chance is most common
Geography matters for names, and Chance is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Chances were FL (62), TX (57), NC (50), CA (38), GA (38). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Chance
Statistically, parents drawn to Chance tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Bryce, Reece, Collin, Dante, and Pierce.
BryceReeceCollinDantePierceCesarPrinceJustice
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Chance | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 711 | #442 |
| 2024 | 762 | #418 |
| 2023 | 853 | #377 |
| 2022 | 985 | #340 |
| 2021 | 1,035 | #322 |
| 2020 | 1,202 | #279 |
| 2019 | 1,214 | #284 |
| 2018 | 1,321 | #270 |
| 2017 | 1,347 | #268 |
| 2016 | 1,347 | #272 |
| 2015 | 1,467 | #250 |
| 2014 | 1,534 | #244 |
| 2013 | 1,520 | #237 |
| 2012 | 1,513 | #238 |
| 2011 | 1,635 | #215 |
| 2010 | 1,440 | #244 |
| 2009 | 1,521 | #236 |
| 2008 | 1,403 | #250 |
| 2007 | 1,472 | #244 |
| 2006 | 1,269 | #274 |
| 2005 | 1,275 | #258 |
| 2004 | 1,321 | #250 |
| 2003 | 1,392 | #240 |
| 2002 | 1,450 | #233 |
| 2001 | 1,542 | #224 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Chance a popular boy name?
Chance ranked #442 among boys in 2025 with 711 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #250.
When was the name Chance most popular?
Chance peaked in 1996, when 2,243 American boys received the name (ranked #154 that year). Since 1996 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Chance?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,532 newborn American boys was named Chance. It scores 66/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.