Chev
An English diminutive name derived from the French Chevallier (knight).
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Chev. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Chev today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Chev births was 2017 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Chev. 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 Chev. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2017
5 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2017 SSA rank
#12,626
Tracked since 2017
Popularity
Chev: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Chev 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 Chev during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Chev
The given name Chev has its roots in the ancient Armenian language, with origins dating back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Armenian word "chev," which translates to "path" or "way." This name was particularly prevalent among the Armenian communities in the historical regions of Anatolia and the Caucasus.
One of the earliest known references to the name Chev can be found in the Armenian epic poem "Daredevils of Sassoun," a literary masterpiece that dates back to the 8th century. In this epic, Chev is mentioned as the name of a brave warrior who played a significant role in the battles against invading forces.
Throughout the medieval period, the name Chev gained popularity among Armenian nobility and aristocracy. Notable historical figures bearing this name include Chev Ardzruni, a prominent military leader and prince who lived during the 9th century, and Chev Pahlavuni, a renowned scholar and philosopher of the 11th century.
As the Armenian diaspora spread across the world, the name Chev also gained recognition in various communities. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Chev Chelengir, a 13th-century Armenian merchant and explorer who traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe, leaving behind valuable accounts of his journeys.
In the realm of arts and culture, Chev Sargavak was a celebrated Armenian painter and miniaturist who lived in the 15th century. His intricate works adorned numerous manuscripts and religious texts, showcasing the rich artistic tradition of the Armenian people.
Another notable figure bearing the name Chev was Chev Astvatsatur, a prominent 17th-century Armenian cleric and theologian. He played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the teachings of the Armenian Apostolic Church during a time of great turmoil and persecution.
While the name Chev has its roots in the Armenian culture, it has also been adopted and adapted by various other communities around the world, each adding their own unique cultural influences and interpretations to its meaning and significance.
People
Chev + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Chev 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
Chev: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Chev?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Chev 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Chev a common name?
We classify Chev as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Chev most popular?
The single biggest year for Chev was 2017, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Chev is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Chev in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Chev a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Chev in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Chev still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Chev in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Chev can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Chev?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.