Total births
951
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.
- 951
- total births
- 1922–2020
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that 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.
- 951 total births
- 1922–2020 years on record
- 1970s peak decade
- 34% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
951 boys have been named Chico since 1922, peaking in the 1970s, last recorded in 2020.
- 951
- total births
- 1922–2020
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that decade
1970s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Chico was born in this single decade.
1977
Single peak year
56 babies were named Chico in 1977 - its busiest year on record.
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 at a glance
Last recorded 2020Peak year
1977
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1922
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
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
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 vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
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% |
South Carolina share of Chico's total US births 2.3%
Even split
22 of 951 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Chico? ▼
951 babies have been named Chico since 1922. It was last recorded in 2020. The peak year was 1977 with 56 births.
When was Chico most popular? ▼
Chico was most popular in the 1970s decade with 320 total births. The single peak year was 1977.
Where is Chico most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Chico are South Carolina (22 births), North Carolina (17 births), Mississippi (8 births).
How long has the name Chico been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Chico since 1922 -- 99 years through the most recent 2020 data.
What names are similar to Chico? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Chip, Chistopher, Chirstopher, Chirag, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
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
- 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 Chico
Nearby Names Like Chico
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Chico
Chip Boy
#3294 3,493 births
Chistopher Boy
1,446 births
Chirstopher Boy
1,051 births
Chirag Boy
667 births
Chi Boy
#5969 563 births
Compare Chico side by side: Chico vs Chip Chico vs Chistopher Chico vs Chirstopher
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Chico: Baby Name Since 1922 - 951 Births, Peak 1977." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/chico. 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 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 July 2026.