Meaning & Origin
An urban area in west London, on the north bank of the river Thames in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Greater London.
Chelsea is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the London neighborhood name meaning 'chalk landing place' — a reference to chalk deposits along the Thames riverbank. Like many place names, it crossed from geography into given names in the 20th century.
Chelsea Clinton's birth in 1980 accelerated the name's rise, pushing it into the U.S. top 20 for girls by the late 1980s. It has a breezy, upscale feel — smart but approachable, familiar yet distinctive enough to stand out.