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Chandler

♀ Girl

Pronounced CHAND-ler /ˈtʃænd.lər/High

Meaning: From Old French chandelier meaning a candle maker or candle seller, from chandelle (candle) and ultimately from Latin candela; an occupational surname adopted as a given nameHigh

In 30 seconds: Chandler is an Old French occupational surname meaning candle maker, that became a given name in the United States for both boys and girls, widely associated with the Friends character Chandler Bing but increasingly used as a girls name.
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Origin HighOld French, English
MeaningFrom Old French chandelier meaning a candle maker or candle seller, from chandelle (candle) and ultimately from Latin candela; an occupational surname adopted as a given name
U.S. rank (2025)#895 → Stable
2025 U.S. births296 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1995
Total births (all-time)≈ 10,384

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199519622025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Chandler comes from Old French chandelier, meaning a maker or seller of candles, from chandelle (candle) and ultimately Latin candela. In medieval England the chandler was a crucial tradespeople, providing candles for homes, churches, and businesses. The word gives us the modern English term chandelier (originally a candle holder). As a surname Chandler appears in English records from the Middle Ages. It traveled to America where it became established as both a surname and, from the mid-20th century onward, a given name.

Chandler as a given name was predominantly masculine in the United States until the sitcom Friends (1994–2004) put the name firmly on the cultural map through the character Chandler Bing. Paradoxically, while Chandler Bing was male, the name has since trended toward girls in American birth statistics — a pattern seen with other Friends-adjacent names. In the 21st century Chandler is used more often for girls than boys in U.S. birth records. It has an air of preppy ease and fits with surname-style names like Taylor, Logan, and Peyton.

Did you know? Before electric lighting, the chandler was one of the most important tradespeople in any medieval town — responsible not only for candles but often for soap and other tallow goods — making Chandler an occupational name with centuries of domestic and commercial history.
Overall data confidence 92%
Behind the Name — Chandler — etymology and usage trends

Variations

ChandlarChandlier

Nicknames

ChanChandy

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Chandler…

Taylor— Old French occupational surname used as a gender-neutral given name with the same modern appeal
Logan— two-syllable surname-as-given-name with the same breezy American gender-fluid character
Peyton— two-syllable surname given name with the same preppy, contemporary feel
Harper— occupational surname given name with the same crossover from male to female in recent decades

Frequently Asked

What does the name Chandler mean?

Chandler comes from Old French chandelier meaning a maker or seller of candles.

How do you pronounce Chandler?

It is said CHAND-ler — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Chandler a boy or girl name?

Chandler is gender-neutral but has shifted to more female than male use in recent U.S. birth records.

Is Chandler named after the Friends character?

The character Chandler Bing from Friends certainly boosted the name's visibility, but the name itself is an Old French occupational surname predating the show by centuries.