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At a Glance
- Meaning
- From Latin castrum ('fort/camp'), via Old English, referring to a fortified Roman town
- Origin
- English (from Latin, via Old English)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- CHES-ter
Chester comes from the Latin word castrum, meaning fort or camp, which passed into Old English as the name for a fortified Roman town. It's an English name, and that fortress meaning is baked right into the word itself. If you like a name where the history is easy to point to and explain, Chester has that built in.
Meaning & Origin of Chester
Meaning: From Latin castrum ('fort/camp'), via Old English, referring to a fortified Roman town.
Origin: English (from Latin, via Old English).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Chester
CHES-terIPA /ˈʧɛstər/
Popularity of Chester
In 1919, Chester ranked #53, with 3,432 baby boys given the name that year. By 2024 it had fallen to #1650, with just 102 boys named Chester — a name that's been tracked since 1880.
Names Like Chester
These names have followed a similar path to Chester in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Chester mean?
From Latin castrum (‘fort/camp’), via Old English, referring to a fortified Roman town. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Chester?
Chester is pronounced CHES-ter (IPA: /ˈʧɛstər/).
Is Chester a popular name right now?
Chester peaked at #53 in 1919 and is ranked #1650 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Chester Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Chester, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Chester? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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