Girl · #14,477 in 2026

Chinelo

Name: Popularity of the name Chinelo in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Chinelo, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Chinelos are a kind of traditional costumed dancer which is popular in the Mexican state of Morelos, parts of the State of Mexico and the Federal District of Mexico City, especially the boroughs of Milpa Alta, Tlalpan, Xochimilco and Magdalena Contreras.

Current Rank

#14,477

Peak Rank

#7,496 (1993)

Total Babies

131

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1983

First Year

2015

Last Year

1993

Peak Year

#7496

Peak Rank

131

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Chinelo

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history

Traditional Tlayacapan Chinelos costume in the La Cereria Museum Face of a Chinelos dancer in Xochimilco, Mexico City The word "chinelos" is derived from the Nahuatl word "zineloquie" which means "disguised." The dance is one of many to develop after the Spanish conquest as native traditions and rites blended into Christian festivals. One of these is Carnival, with its traditions of wearing masks, role reversal, anonymity and behaviors not normally tolerated. This dance developed as a mockery of the Europeans with their fine clothing, beards, fair skin and mannerisms. The modern Chinelos costu

The Story of Chinelo

Chinelo first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1983, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1993, when 11 Chinelos were born — ranking #7,496 that year. As of 2026, Chinelo ranks #14,477 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 131 Chinelos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Chinelo

Phonetically similar names — useful when Chinelo is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Canelo
Gianelli
Giannelli
Channel
Channels
Channell
Chenille
Chunnel
Chanal
Chenal
Chummily
Cello

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Chinelo

What does the name Chinelo mean?

How popular is Chinelo in 2026?

In 2026, Chinelo ranks #14,477 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.

When was Chinelo most popular?

Chinelo reached its peak popularity in 1993, ranking #7,496 that year with 11 babies given the name.

Is Chinelo a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Chinelo is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.

What names go well with Chinelo?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Chinelo include Jolonda, Taji, Tenessa. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Chinelo

Chinelo is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1983 and has accumulated 131 births in the dataset. Chinelo's peak popularity came in 1993 when it ranked #7,496. Use the chart and map above to compare Chinelo's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.