Chad is a masculine given name of unknown origin and uncertain meaning. Some sources suggest that it may have been derived from the Old English word "cæd," which means "round" or "bald." However, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.
The name Chad first gained popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. It peaked in popularity in the year 1985, when it was given to more than 40,000 newborn boys in the U.S. alone. Since then, its usage has declined steadily, but it remains a fairly common name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Chad. One of the most famous is Chad Vader, the half-brother of Darth Vader and the protagonist of a popular web series created by Troy Duffy. Another well-known Chad is Chad Smith, the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In pop culture, the name Chad has been used in various forms of media to evoke a specific image or stereotype. For example, it is often associated with wealthy, preppy characters in television shows and movies. However, this usage is not reflective of the true meaning or origin of the name.
The name Chad experienced significant fluctuations over the past century. In its early years, from 1914 to around 1960, it was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 100 births per year on average. However, starting in the mid-1960s, there was a dramatic increase in popularity, peaking at over 13,000 births in both 1972 and 1973. This trend continued until the late 1980s when it began to decline, dropping below 5,000 births per year by the mid-1990s. Since then, the name Chad has continued to decrease in popularity, with fewer than 200 births per year since 2017 and reaching an all-time low of just 107 births in 2023. Overall, there have been a total of 240,541 babies named Chad over the past century.