Boys' name · since 1922
Chico
Since 1922, U.S. Social Security records show 951 babies named Chico, peaking in 1977. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #5,294 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 951
- born since 1922
- 1970s
- peak decade
Chico sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 951 recorded since 1922.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Chico has been recorded 951 times among boys since 1922, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1970s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1922 to 2020.
- #5,294 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 951 born since 1922
- 1970s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Chico ranks #5,294 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 951 born since 1922, peaking in the 1970s.
- #5,294 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 951
- born since 1922
- 1970s
- peak decade
Chico's 951 recorded births place it above 88.35% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
6 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by South Carolina.
Chico's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Chico's SSA record in two at 1977 and the more recent half accounts for 50% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 50%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1922, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1977 peak of 56, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Chico popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1922–2020
- Peak year (1977)
- 56
- Annual births at peak, across 99 years of records
Chico by decade
1970s is the heaviest window (320 births, 34% of the file).
1970s was Chico's strongest decade.
320 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Chico births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 11
1920s
11 births
- 1930s 21
1930s
21 births
- 1940s 26
1940s
26 births
- 1950s 108
1950s
108 births
- 1960s 105
1960s
105 births
- 1970s
1970s
320 births
- 1980s
1980s
147 births
- 1990s 116
1990s
116 births
- 2000s 78
2000s
78 births
- 2010s 12
2010s
12 births
- 2020s 7
2020s
7 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 320 births (34% of all-time use).
How Chico compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Chico's total volume
Chico by state
Where Chico concentrates geographically, total births since 1922
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Carolina | | 22 | 2.3% |
| #2 | North Carolina | | 17 | 1.8% |
| #3 | Mississippi | | 8 | 0.8% |
| #4 | California | | 6 | 0.6% |
| #5 | Alabama | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #6 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.5% |
22 of 951 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Chico's data
- Chico's decade-level peak was the 1970s (320 total births); usage has since declined to 7 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- South Carolina records the most Chicos (22 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. South Carolina names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Chico
Nearby Names Like Chico
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Chico
Compare Chico side by side: Chico vs Chip Chico vs Chistopher Chico vs Chirstopher
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Chico: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1977)
Similar record span (~98 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, 1922–2020 (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 Chico 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.