Unisex name · since 1980
Cha
Since 1980, U.S. Social Security records show 253 babies named Cha, peaking in 1991. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #11,584 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 253
- born since 1980
- 1990s
- peak decade
Cha is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 253 have been recorded since 1980.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Cha has been recorded 253 times among boys since 1980, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1980 to 2006.
- #11,584 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 253 born since 1980
- 1990s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Cha ranks #11,584 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 253 born since 1980, peaking in the 1990s.
- #11,584 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 253
- born since 1980
- 1990s
- peak decade
Cha's 253 recorded births place it above 74.47% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by California.
Cha's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Cha's SSA record in two at 1991 and the more recent half accounts for 51% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 49%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1983, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1991 peak of 21, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Cha popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1980–2006
- Peak year (1991)
- 21
- Annual births at peak, across 27 years of records
Cha popularity over time - girls
37 total births recorded since 1975 (Cha as girls' name)
Cha by decade
1990s is the heaviest window (122 births, 48% of the file).
1990s was Cha's strongest decade.
122 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.
Cha births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s
1980s
107 births
- 1990s
1990s
122 births
- 2000s 24
2000s
24 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 122 births (48% of all-time use).
Cha by state
Where Cha concentrates geographically, total births since 1980
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 83 | 32.8% |
| #2 | Minnesota | | 13 | 5.1% |
| #3 | Wisconsin | | 5 | 2.0% |
83 of 253 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Cha's data
- Cha's decade-level peak was the 1990s (122 total births); usage has since declined to 24 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Chas (83 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Cha
Nearby Names Like Cha
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Cha
Compare Cha side by side: Cha vs Charles Cha vs Chad Cha vs Charlie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Cha: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1991)
Similar record span (~26 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1980–2006 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Cha draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.