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Name Lineage

    The first name Chester

    A boy’s name from English meaning “a town”, “city”, “especially a roman one”.

    Pronounced /ˈt͡ʃɛ.stɚ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Chester means “a town”, “city”, “especially a roman one” in English.

    From Middle English Chestre, from Old English Ċeaster, from ċeaster (“a town or city, especially a Roman one”). The village in Nova Scotia is likely named after the city in Pennsylvania.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 388 boys were named Chester, making it the 128th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2020, with 691 births (#84).

    0350700 1996200020052010201520202025
    6,250
    babies named Chester, 1996–2025
    #128
    rank in 2025
    2020
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Chester at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 107 boys born in the United States were named Chester, the 1,588th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1920, when 3,698 were.

    02,0004,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    122,302
    babies named Chester since 1880
    #1,588
    rank in 2025
    1920
    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 Chester

    Famous people named Chester

    34 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Chester Bennington
      American singer, songwriter and musician (1976–2017)
    • Chester Morris
      American actor (1901–1970)
    • Chester Carlson
      American physicist (1906-1968)
    • Daniel Chester French
      American sculptor (1850–1931)
    • Chester Conklin
      Actor, comedian (1886-1971)
    • Chester Himes
      Fiction writer from the U.S. state of Missouri (1909–1984)
    • Chester Irving Barnard
      American businessman (1886–1961)
    • William Chester Minor
      American army surgeon, psychiatric-hospital patient, and lexicographical researcher, 1834–1920
    • Chester Thompson
      American drummer, born 1948
    • Chester Bowles
      American politician (1901–1986)
    • Chester Gould
      American cartoonist (1900–1985)
    • Alfred Chester Beatty
      American copper mining magnate (1875–1968)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Chester mean?
    Chester means “a town”, “city”, “especially a roman one” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Chester?
    From Middle English Chestre, from Old English Ċeaster, from ċeaster (“a town or city, especially a Roman one”). The village in Nova Scotia is likely named after the city in Pennsylvania.
    How popular is the name Chester?
    In 2025, 388 boys born in England and Wales were named Chester, ranking 128th. Its peak was 2020, with 691 births.
    What are nicknames for Chester?
    Common nicknames for Chester include Chet.
    Is Chester a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 122,302 US babies named Chester since 1880 were boys.
    When was Chester most popular?
    1920 in the United States, when 3,698 babies were named Chester, its highest rank at 55th.
    How do you pronounce Chester?
    Chester is /ˈt͡ʃɛ.stɚ/, 2 syllables.
    Is Chester also a surname?
    Yes. Chester is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.