NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Chia

A modern seed derived from the Spanish word for "mint".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Chia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Chia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3970, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 4 births.

This profile covers 8 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2004 to 2005. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 8 living people in the UK are called Chia. 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 2006 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Chia ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales in 2005, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 4 girls were registered as Chia.
  • About 8 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3970

2005

Births in 2005

4

Latest year

Peak year

2004

4 births

Estimated living

8

2026

Meaning

What does Chia mean?

The name Chia is derived from the Spanish word "chía," which refers to the chia seed. The chia seed is native to Mexico and was a staple food for the ancient Aztecs and Mayans. The name itself likely originated in Mexico or other parts of Central America where these indigenous cultures thrived.

One of the earliest known references to the name Chia can be found in the Codex Mendoza, a 16th-century Aztec codex that documented various aspects of Aztec life, including names. While the name itself may not have been explicitly mentioned, the codex provides insight into the cultural significance of chia seeds during that time period.

In terms of historical figures bearing the name Chia, one notable individual is Chia Yi (201-169 BC), a Chinese philosopher and statesman from the Han Dynasty. He is known for his contributions to the development of Confucianism and his influential writings on governance and ethics.

Another historical figure with the name Chia is Chia-Shun Chen (1912-1967), a Taiwanese painter and calligrapher renowned for his landscape paintings and his fusion of Eastern and Western artistic styles. His works are celebrated for their unique blend of traditional Chinese brush techniques with modern Western influences.

In the realm of literature, Chia Lun (1929-2014) was a renowned Malaysian writer and poet who made significant contributions to the Chinese literary scene in Southeast Asia. His works often explored themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the immigrant experience.

Moving to more recent times, Chia-Chia Lin (born 1985) is a Taiwanese professional golfer who has won several tournaments on the LPGA Tour and has represented Taiwan in international competitions such as the Olympics and the Solheim Cup.

Lastly, Chia Ye Yuan (born 1997) is a Singaporean singer and actor who rose to fame as a member of the popular Mandopop boy band WayV. He has also appeared in several television dramas and films, showcasing his versatility as a performer.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Chia over time

The chart below shows babies named Chia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2005. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Chia, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2005, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Chia
01234200420042005

Decades

Chia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chia 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
2000s #3848 8 2

Related

Names similar to Chia

FAQ

Chia: questions and answers

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

In 2005, Chia was ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Chia most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 4 babies registered as Chia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Chia?

A modern seed derived from the Spanish word for "mint".

How many people are called Chia in the UK?

A total of 8 babies have been registered as Chia across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.