Is Chandra a boy's or girl's name?

Chandra is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 66 recorded births.

When was Chandra most popular?

Chandra reached its peak popularity in 1975 with 747 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Chandra?

Chandra is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 17,282 babies in the U.S. since 1935. Its peak was in 1975.

Chandra

An uncommon Sanskrit pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysSanskritNot ranked recently

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

A unisex given name from Sanskrit.

Chandra is a unisex baby name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the Sanskrit candra, meaning 'moon' or 'shining, glittering.' In Hindu mythology, Chandra is the god of the moon, a luminous deity associated with the night sky and the rhythm of time.

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, named for the astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, brought the name into scientific renown. In the U.S., Chandra has been used primarily as a girl's name since the 1960s, carrying both celestial beauty and scholarly prestige.

Compare Chandra with another name

Popularity Over Time

Chandra has 76+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1935.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Chandra
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	8	#11381	▼
2010s	91	#11236	▼
2000s	468	#3763	▼
1990s	1,629	#1221	▼
1980s	4,285	#502	▼
1970s	6,698	#341	▲
1960s	3,144	#601	▲
1950s	907	#1495	▲
1940s	46	#3503	▲
1930s	6	#3820	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(76 years, 1935–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Chandra
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	8	#11381	0
2019	8	#11581	+2 (33.3%)
2018	6	#14156	-10 (-62.5%)
2017	16	#7165	+9 (128.6%)
2015	7	#13295	+1 (16.7%)
2014	6	#14961	-7 (-53.8%)
2013	13	#8692	+3 (30.0%)
2012	10	#10597	-8 (-44.4%)
2011	18	#6914	+11 (157.1%)
2010	7	#13760	-16 (-69.6%)
2009	23	#5929	+1 (4.5%)
2008	22	#6167	-7 (-24.1%)
2007	29	#4983	-10 (-25.6%)
2006	39	#3868	-4 (-9.3%)
2005	43	#3466	+2 (4.9%)
2004	41	#3576	-19 (-31.7%)
2003	60	#2644	+7 (13.2%)
2002	53	#2826	-29 (-35.4%)
2001	82	#2050	+6 (7.9%)
2000	76	#2125	-6 (-7.3%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Chandra as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Chandra has also been given to 66 boys in the U.S. since 1969.

Unranked

Current rank

Total births

1976

Peak year

Compare Chandra as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Chandra be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Chandra is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it is not currently ranked. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1935–2023) · Methodology