Chene
Variation of the French word "chêne" meaning oak tree.
Name Census estimates that about 71 living Americans carry the first name Chene. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 85.3% of registrations being female. The average person named Chene today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Chene births was 1990 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Chene. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Chene. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
71
~ 1 in 4,827,526 Americans
Peak year
1990
11 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
1996 SSA rank
#8,112
Tracked since 1971
Gender
Gender distribution for Chene
Chene leans heavily female at 85.3% of total registrations, but 11 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Chene as a male name
- Ranked #8,112 in 1996
- 6 male births in 1996
- Peak: 1996 (6 births)
Chene as a female name
- Ranked #11,790 in 1991
- 6 female births in 1991
- Peak: 1990 (11 births)
Popularity
Chene: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Chene from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 31 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chene by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Chene during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Chenes live
Origin
Meaning and history of Chene
The given name Chene has its origins in the French language and culture. It is a variation of the French word "chêne," which means "oak tree." The name is derived from the Latin word "quercus," which also means "oak."
The oak tree has long been a symbol of strength, endurance, and longevity in many cultures, including French culture. As such, the name Chene may have been given to children with the hope that they would embody these qualities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chene can be found in the 12th century, when it appeared in French historical records. During this time, the name was commonly used in regions of France where oak trees were abundant, such as the northern and central regions.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Chene. One of the earliest known was Chene de Brie, a 13th-century French nobleman and military leader who fought in the Crusades. Another notable bearer of the name was Chene d'Arcy, a French poet and philosopher who lived in the 15th century.
In more recent history, there have been several individuals named Chene who have achieved prominence in various fields. Chene Toscano (1921-2004) was a renowned Italian-American artist and sculptor known for his abstract works. Chene Dubois (1938-2015) was a French writer and journalist who authored several books on cultural and political topics.
Another notable individual with the name Chene was Chene Lamarche (1945-2010), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the National Assembly of Quebec for several years. Chene Beaumont (1958-present) is a French chef and restaurateur who has received numerous awards and accolades for his culinary achievements.
Overall, the name Chene has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in French-speaking regions. Its connection to the oak tree and its symbolic meaning of strength and endurance have made it a popular choice for parents throughout the centuries.
People
Chene + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Chene as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Chene: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Chene?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 71 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Chene going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 4,827,526 US residents.
Is Chene a common name?
We classify Chene as "Very Rare". It ranks above 59.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 75 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Chene most popular?
The single biggest year for Chene was 1990, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Chene is about 40 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Chene a female name?
Yes, 85.3% of people registered as Chene in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.