Chidi

A boy's name of Igbo origin with 212 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

When Chidi hit its peak of 12 births in 2001, the internet was beginning to expose parents to a wider world of naming options, and pop culture influence on baby names was at an all-time high.

Today, Chidi reads as a name tied to a specific era — which is exactly what draws some parents to it.

Chidi is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.

Chidi is a boy's baby name of Igbo origin, from the Nigerian Igbo language, meaning 'God exists' or 'there is God.' It is a component of many longer Igbo theophoric names such as Chidubem ('God leads me') and Chidiebere ('God is merciful').

Chidi is widely used among Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria and in the Nigerian diaspora worldwide. The name gained broader international recognition through the character Chidi Anagonye in the TV show The Good Place (2016–2020), a Nigerian-Australian moral philosophy professor.

EtymologyShow more

Chidi is built from 5 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Igbo 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 Chidi creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.

At a Glance

Unranked

Current Rank

212

Total births

Since 1981

2001

Peak year

12 births

Compare Chidi with another name

Popularity Over Time

Chidi has 27+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1981.

First appeared: 1981Peak: 2001 (12 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Chidi
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	16	#12032	▼
2010s	34	#10408	▼
2000s	67	#8224	▲
1990s	57	#5918	▲
1980s	38	#4982	—

The Story of Chidi

A Gen Z name

Peaking in 2001, Chidi is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Chidi are most likely born between 1991 and 2011.

How rare is Chidi?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Chidi is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1981, peaked in the 2000s with 67 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Chidi by the numbers

Would fill 4 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(27 years, 1981–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Chidi
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	5	#12556	0
2022	5	#12690	-1 (-16.7%)
2020	6	#10849	0
2017	6	#11027	-1 (-14.3%)
2016	7	#9848	-3 (-30.0%)
2014	10	#7649	+5 (100.0%)
2013	5	#12478	-1 (-16.7%)
2012	6	#11039	-3 (-33.3%)
2009	9	#8416	+1 (12.5%)
2008	8	#9143	+1 (14.3%)
2007	7	#9948	-2 (-22.2%)
2004	9	#7636	+2 (28.6%)
2003	7	#8815	-1 (-12.5%)
2002	8	#7766	-4 (-33.3%)
2001	12	#5732	+5 (71.4%)
2000	7	#8337	-3 (-30.0%)
1999	10	#6113	-1 (-9.1%)
1997	11	#5333	0
1996	11	#5242	+5 (83.3%)
1993	6	#7788	-2 (-25.0%)

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Chidi is primarily a boy's name.

When was Chidi most popular?

Chidi reached its peak popularity in 2001 with 12 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Chidi?

Chidi is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 212 babies in the U.S. since 1981. Its peak was in 2001.

Explore More

By Length5-letter names By OriginIgbo names By EndingNames in -i TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1981–2023