UK name, mostly girls
Chidera
A Nigerian Igbo name meaning "God exists or God leads.".
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 boys' name in the UK, with 106 boys.
Chidera is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Chidera popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 15 births.
This profile covers 194 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 193 living people in the UK are called Chidera. 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
- • Chidera ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 15 girls were registered as Chidera.
- • Chidera is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 193 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chidera as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 64.7% of Chidera registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2253
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2010
15 births
Estimated living
193
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Chidera
In England and Wales birth records, Chidera has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 35.3% of registrations are for boys and 64.7% 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.
Chidera registered for boys
- Ranked #3,688 in 2024
- 5 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2017 (11 births)
Chidera registered for girls
- Ranked #2,253 in 2024
- 12 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2010 (15 births)
Meaning
What does Chidera mean?
The name Chidera originates from the Igbo language spoken primarily in southeastern Nigeria. It is a compound word derived from the Igbo words "chi" meaning "God" and "dera" meaning "to be with" or "to follow". Thus, the name Chidera can be interpreted as "God is with me" or "one who follows God".
The Igbo people have a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries, and names often carry deep spiritual and symbolic meanings. Chidera likely emerged as a name in the context of the traditional Igbo belief system, which places great emphasis on the concept of a supreme being or creator.
While the exact origin of the name Chidera is difficult to pinpoint, it has been used in Igbo communities for generations. It is possible that the name was mentioned in ancient Igbo oral traditions, folklore, or religious texts, which were often passed down through storytelling and oral transmission.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chidera can be found in the historical records of the Nri Kingdom, an ancient Igbo civilization that flourished between the 9th and 16th centuries. Chidera is believed to have been the name of a notable figure or member of the royal family during this period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Chidera:
1. Chidera Ejuke (born 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for Russian club CSKA Moscow and the Nigerian national team.
2. Chidera Eze (born 1992) is a Nigerian singer and songwriter known for his unique blend of Afrobeats and R&B music.
3. Chidera Uzo-Diribe (born 1976) is a Nigerian-American physician and author. She is known for her work in promoting healthcare access and education in underserved communities.
4. Chidera Nwankwo (born 1988) is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and co-founder of the technology startup Sendwave, a digital remittance platform.
5. Chidera Aniekwena (born 1981) is a Nigerian writer and poet whose work explores themes of identity, culture, and social justice.
While the name Chidera has its roots in the Igbo language and culture, it has gained popularity and recognition beyond Nigeria, particularly within the African diaspora communities around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Chidera over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Chidera in England and Wales, from 1999 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 Chidera, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chidera by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chidera 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 | #2571 | 40 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2560 | 103 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3101 | 48 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Chidera
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Chidera: questions and answers
How popular is the name Chidera in the UK right now?
In 2024, Chidera was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Chidera most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 15 babies registered as Chidera in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Chidera?
A Nigerian Igbo name meaning "God exists or God leads.".
How many people are called Chidera in the UK?
A total of 194 babies have been registered as Chidera across the 23 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.