Rising since 1986, #666 for boys today.
Popularity of Chaim since 1942
Babies named Chaim per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 66 |
| 1950s | 354 |
| 1960s | 361 |
| 1970s | 756 |
| 1980s | 1,067 |
| 1990s | 1,514 |
| 2000s | 2,260 |
| 2010s | 3,209 |
| 2020s | 2,485 |
Meaning & origin
Chaim, meaning 'life' in Hebrew, has been a steady presence in the U.S. since at least 1942. The name reached its peak popularity in 2022, ranking #666 in 2025 with a 1-in-4,156 birth rate. It has been rising in usage since 1986, particularly in states like New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. Chaim is a classic Hebrew name with deep roots in Jewish tradition, and its modern resurgence reflects a broader interest in meaningful, heritage-rich names.
Chaim is the Hebrew word for 'life' (חַיִּים), used as a masculine given name. It appears in the Hebrew Bible as a noun, but was adopted as a personal name in the Middle Ages, particularly among Ashkenazi Jews. The name is often associated with the concept of 'life' in Jewish tradition and is sometimes given as a symbolic name for a child born after a death or during a time of hardship.
Where Chaim is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Chaim” around the world
Where Chaim lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Haim, Hy, Chay
Sibling names for Chaim
Names that share Chaim's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Chaim
Names whose popularity has moved with Chaim's over the last 50 years.
