Declining since 2020, #4,249 for boys today.
Popularity of Chip since 1942
Babies named Chip per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 138 |
| 1950s | 781 |
| 1960s | 1,229 |
| 1970s | 566 |
| 1980s | 273 |
| 1990s | 73 |
| 2000s | 48 |
| 2010s | 164 |
| 2020s | 221 |
Meaning & origin
Chip is a quintessentially mid-20th-century American nickname-turned-given name. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1942 and enjoyed its peak popularity in 1963, a time when informal, friendly names were in vogue. Since then, its use has steadily declined; after 2020, it has been falling in usage, and by 2025, only about 1 in every 71,170 boys received the name, placing it at rank 4,249. This trajectory mirrors broader trends away from casual, diminutive names. Chip has never been tied to any particular top states, and it remains a distinct choice that evokes a certain mid-century Americana.
Chip is most commonly used as a diminutive or nickname for Charles, following the English tradition of creating short, affectionate forms (e.g., Chuck, Chas). It may also derive directly from the English vocabulary word 'chip', used as a nickname for a small or lively person, or from the 'chip off the old block' idiom, implying a son resembling his father. Its use as a given name first appeared in the mid-20th century, notably in the United States.
Sibling names for Chip
Names that share Chip's style, for a brother or sister.
