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Name Lineage

    The first name Chelsea

    A girl’s name from English meaning “chalk”, “landing place”.

    Pronounced /ˈt͡ʃɛlsi/ 2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Chelsea means “chalk”, “landing place” in English.

    From Old English Ċealchȳþ, from cealc (“chalk”) + hȳþ (“landing place”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 35 girls were named Chelsea, making it the 983rd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 1,735 births (#34).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    13,084
    babies named Chelsea, 1996–2025
    #983
    rank in 2025
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Chelsea with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Chelsea at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 319 girls born in the United States were named Chelsea, the 851st most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1992, when 16,177 were.

    010,00020,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    163,335
    babies named Chelsea since 1880
    #851
    rank in 2025
    1992
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Chelsea

    • Chels

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Chelsea

    30 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Chelsea Manning
      American activist and whistleblower (born 1987)
    • Chelsea Clinton
      American author and global health advocate, born 1980
    • Chelsea Kane
      American actress and singer, born 1988
    • Chelsea Handler
      American comedian, actress, author and talk show host, born 1975
    • Chelsea Peretti
      American comedian and actress, born 1978
    • Chelsea Green
      Canadian professional wrestler, born 1991
    • Chelsea Charms
      American adult model and stripper, born 1976
    • Chelsea Wolfe
      American singer-songwriter, born 1983
    • Chelsea Field
      American actress, born 1957
    • Chelsea Gray
      American basketball player (born 1992)
    • Chelsea Johnson
      American pole vaulter, born 1983
    • Chelsea Hodges
      Australian swimmer, born 2001

    More English girls’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Chelsea mean?
    Chelsea means “chalk”, “landing place” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Chelsea?
    From Old English Ċealchȳþ, from cealc (“chalk”) + hȳþ (“landing place”).
    How popular is the name Chelsea?
    In 2025, 35 girls born in England and Wales were named Chelsea, ranking 983rd. Its peak was 1996, with 1,735 births.
    What are nicknames for Chelsea?
    Common nicknames for Chelsea include Chels.
    Is Chelsea a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 163,335 US babies named Chelsea since 1880 were girls.
    When was Chelsea most popular?
    1992 in the United States, when 16,177 babies were named Chelsea, its highest rank at 15th.
    How do you pronounce Chelsea?
    Chelsea is /ˈt͡ʃɛlsi/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Chelsea?
    Chelsey.