A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Chauncy since 1883
Babies named Chauncy per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1978, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Chauncy's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 7 |
| 1890s | 11 |
| 1900s | 10 |
| 1910s | 62 |
| 1920s | 44 |
| 1930s | 35 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 31 |
| 1960s | 90 |
| 1970s | 195 |
| 1980s | 279 |
| 1990s | 211 |
| 2000s | 175 |
| 2010s | 80 |
| 2020s | 16 |
Meaning & origin
Chauncy is a rare given name with roots in an old Norman surname. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1883, its peak year, and saw modest use in the late 19th century before falling out of common use. A slight revival may be underway; the name's trajectory has been rising since 2022, though it remains extremely uncommon. Chauncy is overwhelmingly used for boys. While no top states are recorded for this name, its historical use was scattered across the United States. Parents today might consider Chauncy as a vintage alternative to more familiar surnames-as-first-names like Chauncey.
Chauncy is a transferred use of the English surname Chauncy, which likely derives from a Norman place name, possibly from the French region of Chauncy (e.g., Chauncy in Oise). The surname was brought to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. As a given name, Chauncy emerged in the 19th century, especially in the United States, where it saw sporadic use, particularly in the 1880s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Chance, Chaunce
Variants: Chauncey
Sibling names for Chauncy
Names that share Chauncy's style, for a brother or sister.
