Chao
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #7,563 in 1985
0 babies were named Chao in the US in 2025.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1983–2025
US births per million boys, 1971–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Chao you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryChao first shows up in US birth records in 1971, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 54 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1985, when it reached #7,563.
About the name Chao
Chao is a gender-neutral name of Chinese origin. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with C and ending in “-hao”. US birth records list Chao for girls from 1983 to 1992, in 6 of those 10 years. Its best year was 1985, when it ranked #7,563 among girl names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 1992, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:Chinese names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.1 | 486,111 girls |
| 1990s | 2.0 | 508,475 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.9 | 170,455 boys |
| 1980s | 7.7 | 130,548 boys |
| 1990s | 2.3 | 431,034 boys |
| 2000s | 0.3 | 3,225,806 boys |
| 2010s | 0.7 | 1,538,462 boys |
More Chinese names
- Unisex name: Lee · meadow, clearing
- Unisex name: Nailah · one who attains
- Unisex name: Naeem · comfort, bliss
- Unisex name: Leigh · meadow, clearing
- Unisex name: Moxie · courage, nerve
- Unisex name: Tao · the way
- Unisex name: Yue · moon; joy
- Unisex name: Natania · gift of God
Questions about the name Chao
What is the origin of the name Chao?
Chao has Chinese roots in our records. Other Chinese names include Lee, Nailah, Naeem.
Is Chao a boy or girl name?
Both. Chao is used for boys and girls.
How popular is the name Chao?
Chao is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1992. It peaked at #7,563 in 1985.