Chet
A diminutive of the male given name Chester.
Every Chet since 1909 — 6,180 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Chet
Chet is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,186 in 2025 with 65 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1909, 6,180 American babies have been named Chet. Its peak came in 1963, when 164 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Chet stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Chet year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 65 | #2,186 |
| 2024 | 71 | #2,101 |
| 2023 | 64 | #2,227 |
| 2022 | 66 | #2,194 |
| 2021 | 51 | #2,557 |
| 2020 | 46 | #2,698 |
| 2019 | 43 | #2,865 |
| 2018 | 50 | #2,554 |
| 2017 | 37 | #3,136 |
| 2016 | 45 | #2,692 |
| 2015 | 38 | #3,035 |
| 2014 | 46 | #2,630 |
| 2013 | 38 | #2,964 |
| 2012 | 30 | #3,548 |
| 2011 | 37 | #3,058 |
| 2010 | 42 | #2,830 |
| 2009 | 24 | #4,182 |
| 2008 | 36 | #3,169 |
| 2007 | 46 | #2,649 |
| 2006 | 33 | #3,233 |
| 2005 | 43 | #2,576 |
| 2004 | 51 | #2,247 |
| 2003 | 45 | #2,359 |
| 2002 | 41 | #2,433 |
| 2001 | 53 | #2,009 |
| 2000 | 51 | #1,995 |
| 1995 | 64 | #1,494 |
| 1990 | 78 | #1,253 |
| 1985 | 76 | #1,057 |
| 1980 | 106 | #862 |
| 1975 | 135 | #714 |
| 1970 | 158 | #651 |
| 1965 | 113 | #699 |
| 1960 | 118 | #718 |
| 1955 | 54 | #1,025 |
| 1950 | 21 | #1,622 |
| 1945 | 27 | #1,272 |
| 1940 | 10 | #2,349 |
| 1935 | 14 | #1,945 |
| 1930 | 8 | #3,064 |
| 1925 | 7 | #3,465 |
| 1920 | 7 | #3,541 |
| 1915 | 8 | #2,863 |
| 1910 | 5 | #1,633 |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Chet
- Chet Baker Musician · 1929–1988
- Chet Atkins Musician · 1924–2001
- Chet Walker Basketball player · b. 1940
- Chet Faker Singer · b. 1988
- Chet Culver Politician · b. 1966
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Chet mean?
A diminutive of the male given name Chester.
How popular is the name Chet in 2025?
Chet ranked #2,186 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 65 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Chet?
6,180 babies have been named Chet in the United States since 1909, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Chet most popular?
Chet peaked in 1963, when 164 newborns received the name.
Is Chet a boy or girl name?
Chet is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Chet rising or falling?
Chet is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Chet?
Well-known people named Chet include Chet Baker (musician), Chet Atkins (musician), Chet Walker (basketball player).