Chester is a moderately popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #128 in 2025 with 388 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2020 with 691 births ranking #84. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 1,516.7%. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 701 boys born was named Chester. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Chester is an old English place-name style name linked with a fort or camp. It has a gentle vintage feel today, even though its deeper history is tied to Roman military settlement.
The name comes from the city of Chester and the broader family of English place names ending in -chester or -caster. In modern use, it feels more old-fashioned and charming than stern.