Holding steady.
Popularity of Chatham since 1984
Babies named Chatham per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 13 |
| 1990s | 0 | 16 |
| 2000s | 15 | 19 |
| 2010s | 19 | 81 |
| 2020s | 10 | 26 |
Meaning & origin
Chatham first appeared on U.S. birth records in 1984, making it a relatively modern choice among surname-style given names. Despite never reaching the top 1000, it saw a quiet peak in 2015, when it was given to the most babies in a single year. Its trajectory has remained stable since the 2010s, with occasional use across the country but no concentration in any particular state. As a habitational name from an English town, Chatham fits a growing trend of place names used as first names, offering an uncommon yet familiar sound.
Chatham is derived from Old English, combining the personal name Ceatta with 'ham' meaning 'homestead' or 'village'. It was originally a place name in Kent, later adopted as a surname. As a given name, it has seen rare but consistent use since the 1980s, often chosen for its surname-like quality.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Chat
Sibling names for Chatham
Names that share Chatham's style, for a brother or sister.
