Chester
Chester is a boys' name of English origin meaning “Roman fort, walled city.” Chester derives from the Latin 'castrum' (fort) and was given to towns built on Roman military sites in England.
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how do you pronounce Chester?
CHES-ter
where does the name Chester come from?
From the Old English ceaster, borrowed from the Latin castrum, a fort or encampment, especially a Roman one. It gave the English city of Chester its name, and the surname and given name come from the city.
The name has a warm, approachable vintage charm. It enjoyed peak popularity in the early 1900s and is now experiencing a revival among parents seeking classic names with friendly nicknames like Chet.
how popular is this name?
Chester has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 116 years since 1880. It peaked at #53 in 1919, and ranked #917 in 1995.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1995 | #917 |
| 1994 | #886 |
| 1993 | #853 |
| 1992 | #724 |
| 1991 | #700 |
| 1990 | #673 |
| 1989 | #664 |
| 1988 | #631 |
| 1987 | #572 |
| 1986 | #600 |
| 1980 | #446 |
| 1970 | #359 |
| 1960 | #260 |
| 1950 | #169 |
| 1940 | #137 |
| 1930 | #103 |
| 1920 | #55 |
| 1919 | #53 |
| 1910 | #61 |
| 1900 | #72 |
| 1890 | #69 |
| 1880 | #85 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Chester fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Chester?
- Chester Bennington (lead vocalist of Linkin Park)
- Chester A. Arthur (21st President of the United States)
what are the nicknames and variants of Chester?
Nicknames
what names are similar to Chester?
what names go well with Chester?
Sibling names that share Chester's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Chester
What does the name Chester mean?
Chester means “Roman fort, walled city”.
What is the origin of the name Chester?
Chester comes from the English naming tradition.
How popular is the name Chester?
Chester ranked #917 in the US in 1995, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1919, at #53, and it has spent 116 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Chester a boy or girl name?
Chester is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Chester?
Chester is pronounced CHES-ter, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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