Chad
Boy name · #1702 in 2025 · Uniqueness 80/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Chad scores 80 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Chad is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Chads were TX (10), LA (7), NY (7), OH (6), PA (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 80/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.