NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Chad

Of uncertain origin, one theory suggests it derives from a term meaning "warrior".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Chad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Chad popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 115 births.

This profile covers 1,157 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 3% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,211 living people in the UK are called Chad. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Chad ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 115 boys were registered as Chad.
  • Chad ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #328 in 2008.
  • About 1,211 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chad as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4991

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

115 births

Estimated living

1,211

2026

Meaning

What does Chad mean?

The name Chad traces its origins back to the ancient Babylonian civilization, where it was derived from the word "Chaddad," meaning "warrior" or "fighter." This name was commonly used among the Babylonian people, who were known for their military prowess and conquests.

During the 6th century BC, the name Chad appeared in several ancient Babylonian cuneiform tablets and inscriptions, often referring to soldiers or military leaders. One of the earliest recorded examples of this name is found in the Babylonian Chronicles, which mention a Chad who served as a commander in the army of King Nebuchadnezzar II.

As the Babylonian Empire expanded, the name Chad spread to other regions of the ancient Near East, including Persia and Mesopotamia. It was adopted by various cultures and underwent slight variations in spelling and pronunciation, such as "Khad" or "Chadad."

In the 4th century AD, the name Chad gained prominence in the Christian tradition when it was borne by Saint Chad of Mercia, a prominent bishop and missionary in Anglo-Saxon England. Saint Chad is celebrated for his efforts in spreading Christianity and establishing monasteries in the region.

Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Chad. One of the most famous was Chad Gadya, a 12th-century Jewish scholar and philosopher from Spain. His works on Torah commentary and Jewish law were highly influential during the Golden Age of Jewish culture in the Iberian Peninsula.

Another prominent Chad was Chad of Armentières, a 13th-century French knight who fought in the Seventh Crusade alongside King Louis IX. He was known for his bravery and valor on the battlefield and is mentioned in several contemporary chronicles and accounts of the Crusades.

In the 16th century, Chad Everett, an English playwright and poet, gained recognition for his works that explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition. His plays were performed in London's renowned theaters and enjoyed widespread popularity during the Elizabethan era.

The name Chad also has a notable connection to the world of exploration and adventure. Chad Chadwick was a 19th-century American explorer who led expeditions into the uncharted territories of the American West. His journals and accounts of his travels contributed significantly to the understanding of the region's geography and indigenous cultures.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Chad, a name with a rich and diverse lineage that spans ancient civilizations, religious traditions, and cultural contexts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Chad over time

The chart below shows babies named Chad registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Chad, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 115 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Chad
0295886115199620092023

Decades

Chad by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chad was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3457 24 4
2010s #1532 182 10
2000s #588 550 10
1990s #277 401 4

Geography

Where Chad is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Chad. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Chad ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #328 in 2008.

Northern Ireland
4
Scotland
3

Across the UK

Chad in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#687 in 2013

12 years of NRS records, 51 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#328 in 2008

4 years of NISRA records, 15 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Chad

  • Chad Sugden

    kickboxer

    kickboxer

    1994-

  • Chad Yates

    cricketer

    cricketer (born 1988)

    1988-

  • Chad Bond

    association football player

    British footballer (born 1987)

    1987-

  • Chad Gould

    musician; association football player; beach soccer player

    Footballer (born 1982)

    1982-

  • Chad McCail

    painter; printmaker

    1961-

  • Chad Stuart

    actor; singer; voice actor

    British actor, voice actor and singer (1941–2020)

    1941-2020

  • Chad Varah

    writer; Anglican priest

    English Anglican priest (1911-2007)

    1911-2007

  • Chad Brown

    Baptist minister and co-founder of Providence, Rhode Island

    1605-1662

Related

Names similar to Chad

FAQ

Chad: questions and answers

How popular is the name Chad in the UK right now?

In 2023, Chad was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Chad most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 115 babies registered as Chad in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Chad?

Of uncertain origin, one theory suggests it derives from a term meaning "warrior".

How many people are called Chad in the UK?

A total of 1,157 babies have been registered as Chad across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 51 more in Scotland and 15 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Chad most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Chad ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #328 in 2008. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.