Chester Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Chester is a name of Latin origin, meaning 'fortress' or 'camp'. It evolved from the Latin 'castra' through various forms in Celtic, Old English, and Middle English. The name is associated with strength and has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century and is currently viewed as a classic name with a vintage appeal.
The name Chester is most popular in Kentucky, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Chester has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Chester' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 61st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 126th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 205th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 375th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 651st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1539th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1767th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1735th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2419th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4692nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 11760th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 27321st out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Chester' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Chester"
Pronunciation
/ˈtʃɛstər/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Chester is derived from the Latin word 'castra', meaning 'fortress' or 'camp'. It was originally used to refer to Roman military camps established in Britain.
Meaning
fortress, camp
Language Evolution
Celtic: Caer, Latin: Castra, Old English: Ceaster, Middle English: Chester
Historical Usage
Chester gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century, particularly in England and the United States, influenced by its use as a place name and its historical significance.
Variants & Derivatives
Chet, Ches, Chess
Modern Popularity & Image
Chester is perceived as a traditional and classic name, often associated with a sense of strength and stability. It has seen a resurgence in recent years as a vintage name choice.
Famous People
Chester A. Arthur - 21st President of the United States, Chester Bennington - Lead singer of the rock band Linkin Park, Chester Himes - American novelist and crime writer
Explore More Chester Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Chester"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Chester"
"Chester" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 61st of 7545 | 51,147 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 126th of 6773 | 27,581 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 205th of 7552 | 23,151 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 375th of 10718 | 7,228 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 651st of 16616 | 3,658 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1539th of 24088 | 1,449 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1767th of 23106 | 1,071 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1735th of 9107 | 400 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2419th of 9204 | 234 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4692nd of 12526 | 134 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 11760th of 19264 | 30 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 27321st of 27321 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Chester" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
3.81% 54th/1416 |
4.21% 58th/1379 |
3.25% 77th/2366 |
7.18% 82nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
8.15% 126th/1546 |
5.98% 93rd/1556 |
4.89% 115th/2353 |
10.99% 170th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
9.38% 209th/2227 |
6.83% 166th/2430 |
6.45% 184th/2853 |
9.73% 270th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
11.68% 343rd/2937 |
9.53% 332nd/3483 |
9.86% 347th/3518 |
11.89% 481st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
16.50% 608th/3685 |
13.92% 623rd/4475 |
11.90% 618th/5194 |
12.65% 799th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
33.85% 1551st/4582 |
27.38% 1414th/5164 |
24.44% 1787th/7313 |
23.74% 1772nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
38.73% 1543rd/3984 |
34.03% 1527th/4487 |
36.24% 2472nd/6822 |
33.51% 2103rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Chester" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
100.00% 1379th/1379 |
75.87% 1795th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Chester"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Chester" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.