Given name & surname
Chaney
“from the oak tree”
Chaney is used as a given name and a surname. One French interpretation is “from the oak tree.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One French interpretation is “from the oak tree.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is French.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1886. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Chaney through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,783
- 411 boys · 1,372 girls
- Most popular year
- 2003
- 77 babies
- 2025
- 16
- #6,901 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −10%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 3% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 16 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,901 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 16.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 57 in 2003. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,531 as a first name in 2020; 31,687 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Chaney’s family of names
Chaney has a related form in Cheyne. Chaney has a related form in Chani. Chaney has a related form in Chanie.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 18
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Chaney, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Manon
“star of the sea” · “from the sea of bitterness”
>99% girls
Delaney
“the dark challenger” · “from the elder-tree grove”
1% boys · 99% girls
Lupita
“from the valley of wolves” · “from the river of the wolf”
>99% girls
Estrella
“star of the sea” · “resembling a star”
>99% girls
Luz
“refers to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Light” · “of the moon”
1% boys · 99% girls
Arly
“from the meadow of the hare” · “an oath; a pledge”
23% boys · 77% girls
Itsasne
“of the sea”
—
Toinette
In French use, Toinette carries the interpretation “priceless and highly praiseworthy; a flourishing flower.”
>99% girls