Given name & surname · also Old English
Chester
“from the camp of the soldiers”
Chester is used as a given name and a surname. One Latin interpretation is “from the camp of the soldiers.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Latin interpretation is “from the camp of the soldiers.”
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Old English and Latin naming traditions.
How it developed
It entered given-name use through an existing surname.
The story
Its naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Chester through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 122,302
- 121,474 boys · 828 girls
- Most popular year
- 1920
- 3,726 babies
- 2025
- 107
- #1,588 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +3%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 107 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,588 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 3.3% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 3,698 in 1920. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 35,868 as a first name in 2020; 13,798 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.
Chester’s family of names
In English usage, Chester has a diminutive in Chet. In English usage, Chester as a surname shares an earlier linguistic root with Caister. Chester has a related form in Cheston.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Chester has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
4 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Chester
- Chester A. Arthurpresident of the United States from 1881 to 18851829–1886
- Chester BenningtonAmerican singer, songwriter and musician (1976–2017)
- Chester W. NimitzUnited States Navy fleet admiral (1885–1966)
- Howlin' WolfAmerican blues musician (1910–1976)
- Chester MorrisAmerican actor (1901–1970)
- Chester CarlsonAmerican physicist (1906-1968)
- Chester Conklinactor, comedian (1886-1971)
- Chester Himesfiction writer from the U.S. state of Missouri (1909–1984)
- Chester BarnardAmerican businessman (1886–1961)
Characters named Chester: Snake Jailbird (The Simpsons character), Chester Lake (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Chester, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lester
“roman fort” · “a man from Leicester”
>99% boys
Elmer
“a renowned and noble man”
>99% boys
Sumner
“a legal official; one who serves summons”
82% boys · 18% girls
Elton
“a spontaneous woman” · “from the old town”
99% boys · 1% girls
Buster
“pockmark, boil”
>99% boys
Edmond
“a wealthy protector”
>99% boys
Earl
“a nobleman”
>99% boys
Webster
“a weaver”
>99% boys