Chad is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Chad means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Chad across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Chad has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Chad is a boy name of Old English origin meaning “battle, warlike”. From the Old English name Ceadda, borne by a seventh-century saint.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 241,767 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 1,157 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 51 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 15 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 20 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Chad per year, United States (1914 to 2025). United States peaked in 1972 (13,441/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (115/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1996 (7/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2000 (5/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2002 (4/yr).
Chad has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1972, when it ranked #40 nationally (given to 13,441 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1970s.
Shad · Chet · Chadd · Shade · Shadoe · Shadae · Shadow · Shada
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →