Rising since 1985, #3,314 for boys today.
Popularity of Cheskel since 1958
Babies named Cheskel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 15 |
| 1960s | 11 |
| 1970s | 43 |
| 1980s | 45 |
| 1990s | 93 |
| 2000s | 142 |
| 2010s | 217 |
| 2020s | 183 |
Meaning & origin
Cheskel is a Yiddish given name derived from the Hebrew Yechezkel (Ezekiel), meaning "God strengthens." Recorded in U.S. Social Security data since 1958, the name has seen a sustained rise. In 2025 it ranked 3,314th, with approximately 1 in 48,802 male newborns receiving the name. Its trajectory indicates consistent growth since 1985, reaching its peak popularity in 2023. Although no U.S. states recorded Cheskel among their top names, its use is concentrated in communities with strong Yiddish-speaking and Orthodox Jewish heritage. The name's cultural resonance stems from its biblical roots and its role as a distinctive Ashkenazi identifier.
Cheskel is the Yiddish form of Yechezkel (Ezekiel), derived from the Hebrew verb chazak, meaning "to strengthen." It emerged among Ashkenazi Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe as a vernacular adaptation of the biblical name. While Ezekiel appears in the Tanakh as a major prophet, Cheskel has been used primarily in Yiddish-speaking contexts and remains common in Orthodox Jewish communities.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Chesky, Chesi, Chaskel
Sibling names for Cheskel
Names that share Cheskel's style, for a brother or sister.
