Chelsea
Girl name · #852 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Chelsea? In official American birth records, Chelsea has been tracked continuously since 1910, giving it 115 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 319 baby girls were named Chelsea, placing it at #852 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #309, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,643 girls born in 2025 was named Chelsea.
Babies named Chelsea per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 115-year story
Chelsea first appears in the Social Security records in 1910, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1992, when 16,177 girls were named Chelsea — good for #15 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 Chelsea against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Chelsea in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Chelsea is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Chelsea will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Chelsea is most common
Geography matters for names, and Chelsea is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Chelsea is most common in NC (0.4 per 1,000), IL (0.4 per 1,000), WA (0.4 per 1,000), NY (0.4 per 1,000), NJ (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Chelsea is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Chelsea
Statistically, parents drawn to Chelsea tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cassandra, Kelsey, Celina, Clarissa, and Brittany.
CassandraKelseyCelinaClarissaBrittanyBiancaCristinaAngelica
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Chelsea | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 319 | #851 |
| 2024 | 358 | #787 |
| 2023 | 397 | #712 |
| 2022 | 424 | #693 |
| 2021 | 466 | #635 |
| 2020 | 449 | #644 |
| 2019 | 557 | #545 |
| 2018 | 664 | #471 |
| 2017 | 818 | #381 |
| 2016 | 933 | #354 |
| 2015 | 1,057 | #309 |
| 2014 | 1,196 | #275 |
| 2013 | 1,179 | #271 |
| 2012 | 1,356 | #235 |
| 2011 | 1,425 | #222 |
| 2010 | 1,417 | #223 |
| 2009 | 1,429 | #232 |
| 2008 | 1,518 | #222 |
| 2007 | 1,644 | #209 |
| 2006 | 1,824 | #192 |
| 2005 | 1,734 | #200 |
| 2004 | 1,752 | #195 |
| 2003 | 1,838 | #176 |
| 2002 | 1,785 | #179 |
| 2001 | 2,120 | #153 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Chelsea?
In official American birth records, the name Chelsea first appeared in 1910 (over 115 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 115 years.
Is Chelsea a popular girl name?
Chelsea ranked #852 among girls in 2025 with 319 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #309.
When was the name Chelsea most popular?
Chelsea peaked in 1992, when 16,177 American girls received the name (ranked #15 that year). Since 1992 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Chelsea?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,643 newborn American girls was named Chelsea. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.