Declining since 1991, #6,325 for girls today.
Popularity of Chelsey since 1969
Babies named Chelsey per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 497 |
| 1980s | 8,927 |
| 1990s | 16,838 |
| 2000s | 3,737 |
| 2010s | 1,281 |
| 2020s | 205 |
Meaning & origin
Chelsey is a modern spelling of Chelsea, a name that rose from relative obscurity in the 1960s to peak popularity in 1992, when it reached its highest rank. Since 1991, its usage has been steadily declining, and in 2025 it ranked 6,325, with approximately 1 in 89,293 newborns receiving the name. Its trajectory reflects the broader shift away from the 1990s style of -ey and -ie suffixed spellings for girls. While the base name Chelsea itself has Old English roots as a London district name, Chelsey as a variant is a purely American respelling. No top states are recorded in the latest data, suggesting it is now broadly distributed at low frequency. The name offers a familiar sound with a distinctive spelling, fitting in with other 1990s-era names like Brittany, Kelsey, and Megan.
Chelsey is a respelling of Chelsea, a place name in London that emerged as a given name in the 20th century. The area name Chelsea is first recorded in Anglo-Saxon as 'Cealc-hyð' or similar, likely combining Old English 'cealc' (chalk) and 'hyð' (landing place or wharf). The given name Chelsea gained popularity in the US from the 1960s onward, and Chelsey appeared as a variant spelling. It rose strongly in the 1980s and 1990s before declining.
Where Chelsey is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Chels, Chelsie
Sibling names for Chelsey
Names that share Chelsey's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Chelsey
Names whose popularity has moved with Chelsey's over the last 50 years.
