Chanel first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Chanel

A feminine name of French origin meaning "twig" or "small channel".

Popularity of Chanel by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Chanel is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Chanel being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 204 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Chanel.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 204
2022 0 287
2021 0 332
2020 0 388
2019 0 354
2018 0 354
2017 0 391
2016 0 450
2015 0 413
2014 0 453
2013 0 382
2012 0 373
2011 0 320
2010 0 333
2009 0 354
2008 0 380
2007 0 318
2006 0 287
2005 0 272
2004 0 263
2003 0 229
2002 0 209
2001 0 238
2000 0 278
1999 0 275
1998 0 325
1997 0 378
1996 6 416
1995 0 358
1994 0 468
1993 0 594
1992 0 658
1991 0 676
1990 5 606
1989 11 523
1988 0 544
1987 0 465
1986 0 496
1985 0 458
1984 0 437
1983 0 434
1982 0 332
1981 6 270
1980 0 281
1979 5 264
1978 0 198
1977 0 163
1976 0 151
1975 0 140
1974 0 119

The history of the first name Chanel

The given name Chanel is a relatively modern name that originates from the French language and culture. It is derived from the surname of the famous French fashion designer Coco Chanel, whose real name was Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel. Born in 1883, she was a pioneering figure in the fashion industry and is credited with establishing the iconic Chanel brand.

Despite its association with the renowned fashion designer, the name Chanel does not have any known historical references or appearances in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. Its usage as a given name is thought to have emerged in the 20th century, likely inspired by the success and fame of Coco Chanel and her fashion empire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chanel being used as a first name is Chanel Iman, an American fashion model born in 1990. She has walked the runway for numerous high-profile fashion shows and has graced the covers of various international magazines.

Another notable bearer of the name Chanel is Chanel West Coast, an American rapper and television personality born in 1988. She rose to fame as a co-host on the MTV reality series Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory and has released several successful rap albums.

In the literary world, Chanel Cleeton is an American author born in 1986, known for her historical fiction novels set in mid-20th century Cuba and Florida.

Chanel Terrero is a Cuban-American singer and songwriter born in 1989, who has gained recognition for her soulful R&B and pop music.

Chanel Cartell is a South African actress born in 1982, known for her roles in various television series and films produced in South Africa.

While the name Chanel has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in the fashion and entertainment industries, its usage as a given name is relatively new and can be traced back to the influence and legacy of the iconic Coco Chanel and her eponymous fashion brand.

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 Chanel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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

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

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

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