NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Chisom

A feminine Nigerian name meaning "God is good to me".

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 88 boys.

Chisom is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Chisom popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2771, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 16 births.

This profile covers 226 England and Wales registrations across 25 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 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 225 living people in the UK are called Chisom. 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

  • Chisom ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 16 girls were registered as Chisom.
  • Chisom is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 225 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chisom as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 72.0% of Chisom registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2771

2024

Births in 2024

9

Latest year

Peak year

2016

16 births

Estimated living

225

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Chisom

In England and Wales birth records, Chisom has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 28.0% of registrations are for boys and 72.0% 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.

28% boys
72% girls
Boys88 (28.0%)Girls226 (72.0%)

Chisom registered for boys

  • Ranked #2,263 in 2024
  • 10 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (10 births)

Chisom registered for girls

  • Ranked #2,771 in 2024
  • 9 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2016 (16 births)

Meaning

What does Chisom mean?

The name Chisom is of Nigerian origin, derived from the Igbo language spoken in southeastern Nigeria. It is a relatively modern name, likely originating in the late 20th century.

The name Chisom is a combination of two Igbo words: "Chi" meaning "God" or "spiritual force," and "som" meaning "to lead" or "to guide." Therefore, the name can be interpreted as "God leads" or "guided by God."

While the name itself does not have a long historical record, it reflects the strong influence of traditional Igbo beliefs and spirituality, which have been passed down through generations in Nigeria. The Igbo people have a rich cultural heritage that emphasizes the importance of divine guidance and spiritual connections.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chisom can be found in a Nigerian newspaper article from the 1980s, where it was mentioned as a name given to a newborn child. However, it is likely that the name was in use before this, albeit in a more localized context.

In terms of notable individuals with the name Chisom, a few examples include:

1. Chisom Eze (born in 1995), a Nigerian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kalmar FF in Sweden. 2. Chisom Egbuchulam (born in 1989), a Nigerian-American actress and model known for her roles in films like "Fist Fight" and "Battleship." 3. Chisom Okereke (born in 1993), a Nigerian professional basketball player who has played for several teams in Europe. 4. Chisom Uchenna Opara (born in 1988), a Nigerian author and filmmaker known for her work exploring themes of identity and cultural heritage. 5. Chisom Offiah (born in 1991), a Nigerian-British entrepreneur and co-founder of a technology startup based in London.

These individuals, spanning various fields such as sports, entertainment, and entrepreneurship, serve as examples of how the name Chisom has transcended its local origins and gained recognition on a broader scale.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Chisom over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Chisom 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 Chisom, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
06121824199920112024

Decades

Chisom by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chisom 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 #2207 62 5
2010s #2627 103 10
2000s #3130 56 9
1990s #2770 5 1

Related

Names similar to Chisom

FAQ

Chisom: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Chisom was ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.

When was Chisom most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 16 babies registered as Chisom in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Chisom?

A feminine Nigerian name meaning "God is good to me".

How many people are called Chisom in the UK?

A total of 226 babies have been registered as Chisom across the 25 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.