Chelsea is a unisex given name of English origin, derived from the surname Chelsea, which was originally an Old English place name meaning 'clearing where celery grows'. The name became popular in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. In the UK, it has been more commonly used as a girl's name but has also been given to boys occasionally. Chelsea is known for its association with several notable individuals, including English football club Chelsea F.C., the Chelsea Flower Show, and the upscale neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City called Chelsea.
The name Chelsea has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a notable spike in usage from 1983 to 1989. The peak occurred in 1989 with 49 births, followed by consistent high numbers until 1992. However, since then, the popularity of the name has steadily declined, reaching a low point recently with only 5 and 6 births each in 2015 and 2018 respectively. Overall, there have been a total of 451 births recorded for the name Chelsea from 1914 to 2018.