Total births
1,372
Unisex name · since 1886
Chaney
Since 1886, U.S. Social Security records show 1,372 babies named Chaney, peaking in 2003. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7265
- among girls today
- 1,372
- born since 1886
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 59%
- more common than other girls
1,372 babies have been named Chaney since 1886, making it today's #7265 unisex name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Chaney has been recorded 1,372 times among girls since 1886, currently ranked #7265 nationally and more common than 59% of girls, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1886 to 2025.
- #7265 among girls today
- 1,372 born since 1886
- 2000s peak decade
- 59% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Chaney is currently the #7265 unisex name in America, more common than 59% of girls - 1,372 born since 1886, peaking in the 2000s.
- #7265
- among girls today
- 1,372
- born since 1886
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 59%
- more common than other girls
Chaney vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#7265
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 59% of names given to girls today.
2000s
Peak decade
26% of everyone ever named Chaney was born in this single decade.
2003
Single peak year
57 babies were named Chaney in 2003 - its busiest year on record.
How Chaney compares
1,372 Top 27% higher than 73% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Chaney's all-time total is 4x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Chaney | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,372 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 57 | 48 | 19,840 |
Chaney's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Chaney's SSA record in two at 1982 and the more recent half accounts for 76% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 24%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1886, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2003 peak of 57, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Chaney at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2003
Current rank
#7,265
Active since
1886
Chaney popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–2025
- Peak year (2003)
- 57
- Annual births at peak, across 140 years of records
Chaney popularity over time - boys
411 total births recorded since 1915 (Chaney as boys' name)
Chaney by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Chaney's strongest decade.
361 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.
Chaney births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 19
1880s
19 births
- 1890s 16
1890s
16 births
- 1900s 46
1900s
46 births
- 1910s 45
1910s
45 births
- 1920s 22
1920s
22 births
- 1930s 7
1930s
7 births
- 1940s 14
1940s
14 births
- 1950s 18
1950s
18 births
- 1960s 16
1960s
16 births
- 1970s 87
1970s
87 births
- 1980s
1980s
151 births
- 1990s
1990s
324 births
- 2000s
2000s
361 births
- 2010s
2010s
164 births
- 2020s 82
2020s
82 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 361 births (26% of all-time use).
How Chaney compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Chaney's total volume
Chaney vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Chaney by state
Where Chaney concentrates geographically, total births since 1886
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 93 | 6.8% |
| #2 | Kentucky | | 29 | 2.1% |
| #3 | Alabama | | 11 | 0.8% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #5 | Mississippi | | 5 | 0.4% |
Texas share of Chaney's total US births 6.8%
Even split
93 of 1,372 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Chaney? ▼
Since 1886, Social Security records show 1,372 babies named Chaney. Today it holds rank #7265 among girls. Its busiest year on record was 2003, with 57 births.
When was Chaney most popular? ▼
Chaney was most popular in the 2000s decade with 361 total births. The single peak year was 2003.
Where is Chaney most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Chaney are Texas (93 births), Kentucky (29 births), Alabama (11 births).
Is Chaney a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Chaney is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,372 births, and as a boy's name it has 411 births.
How long has the name Chaney been used? ▼
Chaney has been recorded in Social Security data since 1886, spanning 140 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Chaney? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Charlotte, Charlene, Charlie, Charity, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Chaney's data
- Chaney's decade-level peak was the 2000s (361 total births); usage has since declined to 82 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Chaneys (93 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Chaney
Nearby Names Like Chaney
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Chaney
Charlotte Girl
#4 453,433 births
Charlene Girl
#1755 133,729 births
Charlie Girl
#140 40,359 births
Charity Girl
#2041 35,518 births
Chasity Girl
#4059 24,414 births
Compare Chaney side by side: Chaney vs Charlotte Chaney vs Charlene Chaney vs Charlie
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Chaney
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1886–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Chaney: #7265 Unisex Name - 1,372 Births, Peak 2003." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/chaney. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 Chaney 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 June 2026.