Unisex name · since 1977
Chen
Since 1977, U.S. Social Security records show 193 babies named Chen, peaking in 1983. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #13,180 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 193
- born since 1977
- 2010s
- peak decade
Chen is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 193 have been recorded since 1977.
Social Security Administration records show Chen recorded 193 times among boys since 1977, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1977 to 2024.
- #13,180 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 193 born since 1977
- 2010s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Chen ranks #13,180 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 193 born since 1977, peaking in the 2010s.
- #13,180 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 193
- born since 1977
- 2010s
- peak decade
Chen's 193 recorded births place it above 70.97% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by New York.
Chen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Chen's SSA record in two at 2005 and the more recent half accounts for 52% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 48%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1986, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1983 peak of 9, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Chen popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1977–2024
- Peak year (1983)
- 9
- Annual births at peak, across 48 years of records
Chen popularity over time - girls
57 total births recorded since 1982 (Chen as girls' name)
Chen by decade
2010s is the heaviest window (55 births, 28% of the file).
2010s was Chen's strongest decade.
55 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 28% of all-time use.
Chen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 7
1970s
7 births
- 1980s 20
1980s
20 births
- 1990s
1990s
39 births
- 2000s
2000s
50 births
- 2010s
2010s
55 births
- 2020s
2020s
22 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 55 births (28% of all-time use).
Chen by state
Where Chen concentrates geographically, total births since 1977
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 5 | 2.6% |
5 of 193 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Chen's data
- Chen's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (55 total births) through the 2020s (22) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- New York records the most Chens (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Chen
Nearby Names Like Chen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Chen
Compare Chen side by side: Chen vs Chester Chen vs Chet Chen vs Chevy
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Chen: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1983)
Similar record span (~47 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, 1977–2024 (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 Chen 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.