NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Chi

A feminine Japanese name meaning "eternal".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 74 girls.

Chi is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Chi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 14 births.

This profile covers 166 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 227 living people in the UK are called Chi. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Chi ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 14 boys were registered as Chi.
  • Chi ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.
  • Chi is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 227 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 69.2% of Chi registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

1996

14 births

Estimated living

227

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Chi

In England and Wales birth records, Chi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 69.2% of registrations are for boys and 30.8% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

69% boys
31% girls
Boys166 (69.2%)Girls74 (30.8%)

Chi registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,270 in 2024
  • 4 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 1996 (14 births)

Chi registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,891 in 2024
  • 3 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2008 (7 births)

Meaning

What does Chi mean?

The name Chi has its origins in several ancient languages and cultures, tracing back thousands of years. In Greek, the word "chi" represents the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, which was derived from the Phoenician letter "khei". This letter has symbolic significance and is often used in scientific and mathematical formulas.

In Chinese, the name Chi is a transliteration of the character "???", which means "to breathe" or "air". This character is deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy and is associated with concepts of vitality, energy, and the life force that animates all living beings. The name Chi has been used in Chinese culture for centuries, appearing in various literary and philosophical texts.

In Vietnamese, the name Chi is a common given name, derived from the word "ch??" which means "sibling" or "younger sibling". It is often used as a term of endearment and reflects the importance of family and kinship ties in Vietnamese culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chi dates back to the 3rd century BC, when a Chinese philosopher named Chi Ye lived during the Qin Dynasty. He was known for his teachings on the principles of yin and yang and the concept of wu wei, or effortless action.

Another notable figure with the name Chi was Chi Pu, a 4th-century Chinese calligrapher and poet who was highly regarded for his artistic talents and contributions to the development of Chinese calligraphy.

In the realm of religion, the name Chi appears in various Buddhist texts and teachings. One example is Chi Kung, a Chinese spiritual practice that involves cultivating and channeling internal energy through meditation and physical exercises.

Moving to the Western world, Chi Onwurah is a prominent British politician and engineer who was born in 1965. She has served as a Member of Parliament and is known for her advocacy of diversity and inclusion in the technology sector.

In the field of sports, Chi Cheng was an American professional basketball player who played in the NBA during the 1970s and 1980s. He was born in 1948 and is remembered for his defensive prowess and tenacity on the court.

Literature has also seen its share of notable figures with the name Chi. Chi Li, a Chinese-American author and journalist born in 1957, has written several books exploring issues of identity, culture, and the immigrant experience.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and diverse cultural influences that have shaped the name Chi over the centuries, highlighting its enduring significance and versatility across various domains and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Chi over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Chi in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Chi, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0591418199620102024

Decades

Chi by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chi 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 #4421 11 3
2010s #3798 38 8
2000s #2238 70 9
1990s #1140 47 4

Geography

Where Chi is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Chi. 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.

Chi ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Chi in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#687 in 2013

16 years of NRS records, 65 total registered

Related

Names similar to Chi

FAQ

Chi: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Chi was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Chi most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 14 babies registered as Chi in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Chi?

A feminine Japanese name meaning "eternal".

How many people are called Chi in the UK?

A total of 166 babies have been registered as Chi across the 24 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 65 more in Scotland.

Where is Chi most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Chi ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #687 in 2013. 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.