Chandler first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Chandler has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Chandler

Occupational surname meaning a maker or seller of candles or candelabras.

Popularity of Chandler by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Chandler is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 78% of people named Chandler being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 388 male babies and 296 female babies born with the name Chandler.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 388 296
2022 428 291
2021 457 303
2020 489 262
2019 478 284
2018 566 257
2017 594 248
2016 654 265
2015 732 249
2014 730 223
2013 675 196
2012 597 161
2011 615 140
2010 524 116
2009 579 100
2008 608 122
2007 674 135
2006 753 132
2005 870 156
2004 1,130 136
2003 1,270 172
2002 1,417 223
2001 1,792 240
2000 2,131 326
1999 2,395 447
1998 1,952 412
1997 1,796 416
1996 2,185 493
1995 1,856 744
1994 704 570
1993 661 733
1992 553 437
1991 467 90
1990 396 84
1989 301 65
1988 224 41
1987 199 36
1986 142 20
1985 120 14
1984 118 18
1983 88 21
1982 90 18
1981 70 18
1980 66 19
1979 70 7
1978 63 5
1977 48 7
1976 66 7
1975 66 0
1974 45 8

The history of the first name Chandler

The name Chandler is an English occupational surname that originated in the Middle Ages and later became a masculine given name. It derives from the Old French word "chandelier," which means "candlestick maker" or "candle maker." The name can be traced back to the 12th century, when it referred to individuals who made and sold candles.

In medieval times, chandlers played a crucial role in providing illumination for homes, churches, and other buildings. As their trade was considered essential, chandlers often held respected positions within their communities. The name Chandler may have initially been used to identify individuals by their occupation before becoming a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest known references to the name Chandler can be found in the Domesday Book, a record of landholdings and properties compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The book mentions several individuals with the surname Chandler, indicating the name's existence and use during the Norman period in England.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Chandler. One of the most famous was Thomas Chandler (1693-1766), an English theologian and philosopher who served as Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. He was known for his extensive writings on theology and his defense of Christianity against deism.

Another prominent Chandler was Zachariah Chandler (1813-1879), an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Michigan and later as Secretary of the Interior under President Ulysses S. Grant. He played a significant role in the abolition of slavery and the reconstruction of the South after the American Civil War.

In the field of literature, Raymond Chandler (1888-1959) was a renowned American novelist and screenwriter known for his influential detective fiction and for creating the iconic character Philip Marlowe. His works, such as "The Big Sleep" and "Farewell, My Lovely," are considered classics of the hardboiled genre and have had a lasting impact on crime fiction.

The name Chandler has also been associated with notable figures in other fields, such as Edward Chandler (1768-1841), an English sculptor known for his neoclassical works, and Everett Chandler (1909-1972), an American baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox in the 1930s and 1940s.

While the name Chandler has its roots in an occupational surname, it has evolved over centuries to become a respected and widely used given name in English-speaking countries. Its historical significance and association with notable individuals have contributed to its enduring popularity.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Chandler was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Chandler, please contact us.

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"Chandler first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/chandler-meaning-and-history/.

"Chandler first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/chandler-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Chandler first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/chandler-meaning-and-history/.

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