Chae
Primarily a girl's name of Korean origin with 175 recorded births. Also given to 148 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Chae is a girl's or boy's baby name of Korean origin, from the Korean 채 (Chae) meaning 'colorful' or 'multicolored' — associated with brightness and visual richness. As a surname, Chae is one of the less common Korean family names; as a given name, it carries a sense of vibrant, visual beauty.
Short, clean, and distinctively cross-cultural, Chae works easily in both Korean and English-speaking contexts — carrying the Korean aesthetic of color and light in a single crisp syllable.
EtymologyShow more
Chae is built from 4 letters and one syllable — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Korean naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Chae creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. One-syllable names stand out for their directness. Every sound carries weight, making pronunciation and first impressions immediate.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Chae has 19+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1970.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26 | #13347 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 77 | #10548 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 62 | #4277 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 10 | #8831 | — |
The Story of Chae
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1988, Chae is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Chae are most likely born between 1978 and 1998.
How rare is Chae?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Chae is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1970, peaked in the 1990s with 77 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Chae by the numbers
- Would fill 4 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(19 years, 1970–2005)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 | #14845 |
| 2003 | 6 | #14204 |
| 2001 | 7 | #12305 |
| 2000 | 7 | #12035 |
| 1999 | 10 | #8914 |
| 1998 | 6 | #12745 |
| 1997 | 6 | #12361 |
| 1996 | 8 | #9733 |
| 1995 | 6 | #12050 |
| 1994 | 8 | #9724 |
| 1993 | 6 | #12043 |
| 1992 | 8 | #9630 |
| 1991 | 6 | #11749 |
| 1990 | 13 | #6527 |
| 1989 | 19 | #4703 |
| 1988 | 24 | #3814 |
| 1987 | 19 | #4314 |
| 1976 | 5 | #9506 |
| 1970 | 5 | #8156 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Chae as a Boy's Name
Chae is a true unisex name. As a boy's name, it has 148 recorded births since 1972.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chae a boy's or girl's name?
When was Chae most popular?
How popular is the name Chae?
Can Chae be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1970–2005