Chen
Chen ( ) is a common Chinese-language surname and one of the most common surnames in Asia.
Meaning & Origin of Chen
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Chen ( ) is a common Chinese-language surname and one of the most common surnames in Asia.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Chen
As a girl name
Chen first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1982, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 8 Chens were born — ranking #12,675 that year. As of 2026, Chen ranks #16,544 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 57 Chens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Chen first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1977, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1983, when 9 Chens were born — ranking #4,139 that year. As of 2026, Chen ranks #8,947 for boys with 8 births, with steady use. In total, more than 193 Chens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Chen
Phonetically similar names — useful when Chen is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chen
What does the name Chen mean?
How popular is Chen in 2026?
When was Chen most popular?
In which U.S. states is Chen most popular?
Is Chen a unisex name?
What names go well with Chen?
About the name Chen
Chen is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1977 and has accumulated 193 births in the dataset. Chen's peak popularity came in 1983 when it ranked #4,139. Use the chart and map above to compare Chen's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1983 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.