Holding steady, #7,194 for boys today.
Popularity of Chesley since 1880
Babies named Chesley per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Chesley's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 46 |
| 1890s | 0 | 61 |
| 1900s | 0 | 66 |
| 1910s | 0 | 241 |
| 1920s | 5 | 378 |
| 1930s | 0 | 270 |
| 1940s | 0 | 263 |
| 1950s | 0 | 218 |
| 1960s | 18 | 151 |
| 1970s | 71 | 161 |
| 1980s | 191 | 165 |
| 1990s | 175 | 113 |
| 2000s | 80 | 65 |
| 2010s | 56 | 66 |
| 2020s | 29 | 30 |
Meaning & origin
Chesley is a name of uncertain English origin, likely derived from a place name meaning 'clearing with gravel' or 'campion meadow.' It first appeared in U.S. records in 1880 and saw its peak in 1894, when it ranked among the most common names of that era. In 2025, it ranked 7194 with a frequency of about 1 in 155,280 newborns, reflecting its status as a rare but enduring choice. The name has always been used for both boys and girls, though modern usage leans slightly male. Despite its obscurity, Chesley maintains a steady, if low-level, presence in American naming, with no significant revival or decline.
Chesley is likely of English origin, derived from a locational surname borne by families from places such as Chesley in Somerset or Cheslea in various counties. The place name components may be Old English 'ceose' meaning 'gravel' or 'cæg' (campion flower) combined with 'leah' (woodland clearing). As a given name, it emerged in the 19th century in the United States and saw modest use for both boys and girls.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ches, Lee, Chet
Variants: Chesleigh, Chesly, Cheasley
Sibling names for Chesley
Names that share Chesley's style, for a brother or sister.
