Chester
Chester: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈt͡ʃɛ.stɚ/ · /ˈt͡ʃɛ.stə/
Meaning and origin of Chester
Root meaning: “a town or city, especially a Roman one”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
From Middle English Chestre, from Old English Ċeaster, from ċeaster (“a town or city, especially a Roman one”). The village in Nova Scotia is likely named after the city in Pennsylvania.
How popular is Chester?
Since 1880, 828 girls and 121,474 boys in the U.S. have been named Chester (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1224 in 1903. Its highest rank for boys was #53 in 1919. In 2025, 107 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Chester
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English boy names
Sibling name ideas for Chester
Sister and brother names that share Chester's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Chester FAQ
What does the name Chester mean?
Chester traces back to a root meaning "a town or city, especially a Roman one". A male given name transferred from the surname. From Middle English Chestre, from Old English Ċeaster, from ċeaster (“a town or city, especially a Roman one”). The village in Nova Scotia is likely named after the city in Pennsylvania.
What is the origin of the name Chester?
Chester is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name Chester?
Since 1880, 828 girls and 121,474 boys in the U.S. have been named Chester (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1224 in 1903. Its highest rank for boys was #53 in 1919. In 2025, 107 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Chester a boy or girl name?
Chester is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 828 girls and 121,474 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.