Chad
Chad: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /t͡ʃæd/ · /t͡ʃad/
Meaning and origin of Chad
- A male given name from Old English; also a modern nickname for Charles, Chadwick and similar-sounding names.
Etymology
From Middle English Chadde, from Old English Ċeadda, of obscure meaning; name of a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon saint, revived in the 20th century. The sense of “alpha male” originates from an apparent stereotype that men with such a name tend to bear that temperament, first attested in c. late 1990s in Chicago, Illinois (specifically "successful white man, yuppie"), but in common usage only as of the late 2010s via 4chan and California slang.
How popular is Chad?
Since 1880, 1,039 girls and 240,728 boys in the U.S. have been named Chad (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1445 in 1973. Its highest rank for boys was #25 in 1972. In 2025, 96 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Chad
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English boy names
Sibling name ideas for Chad
Sister and brother names that share Chad's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Chad FAQ
What does the name Chad mean?
A male given name from Old English; also a modern nickname for Charles, Chadwick and similar-sounding names. From Middle English Chadde, from Old English Ċeadda, of obscure meaning; name of a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon saint, revived in the 20th century. The sense of “alpha male” originates from an apparent stereotype that men with such a name tend to bear that temperament, first attested in c. late 1990s in Chicago, Illinois (specifically "successful white man, yuppie"), but in common usage only as of the late 2010s via 4chan and California slang.
What is the origin of the name Chad?
Chad is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name Chad?
Since 1880, 1,039 girls and 240,728 boys in the U.S. have been named Chad (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1445 in 1973. Its highest rank for boys was #25 in 1972. In 2025, 96 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Chad a boy or girl name?
Chad is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 1,039 girls and 240,728 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.