Find out how popular the first name Chen has been for the last 46 years (from 1977 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Chen by gender

Based on the last 46 years of data, Chen is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 76% of people named Chen being male.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Chen.

The history of the first name Chen

The given name Chen has its origins in Chinese culture, dating back to ancient times. It is a Chinese surname that has also been used as a given name. The name is derived from the Chinese word "陳," which means "to spread out" or "to exhibit."

In ancient Chinese literature, the name Chen appears in various historical records and texts. One notable reference is found in the Shijing, the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry, which dates back to the early Zhou Dynasty (1046–771 BC). The name is also mentioned in the Spring and Autumn Annals, a historical record of the State of Lu from 722 to 481 BC.

The earliest recorded individual with the name Chen is Chen Sheng, a famous leader of a peasant uprising against the Qin Dynasty in 209 BC. His rebellion, known as the Dazexing Uprising, played a significant role in the eventual fall of the Qin Dynasty and the establishment of the Han Dynasty.

Throughout Chinese history, several notable individuals have borne the name Chen. One prominent figure is Chen Duxiu (1879–1942), a revolutionary and one of the founders of the Chinese Communist Party. Another is Chen Qingying (1917–1986), a renowned scientist and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of differential geometry.

In the realm of literature, Chen Zhihao (1920–1997) was a renowned Chinese playwright and novelist, best known for his works reflecting the struggles of the Chinese people during the Cultural Revolution.

Moving to the world of martial arts, Chen Xiaowang (1949–1981) was a legendary Chen-style Taijiquan (Tai Chi) master and founder of the Chen Village Taiji Quan School, renowned for his skill and dedication to preserving the traditional Chen-style Taijiquan.

It is essential to note that the name Chen has also been used in various other cultures and languages, such as Korean and Vietnamese, where it may have different meanings and origins.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!