Chester is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #1650 in 2024 with 102 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 124 births ranking #1006. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 17.7%. In 2024, approximately 1 in every 16,817 boys born was named Chester. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
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.