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Home › Baby Names Directory › Chanda

Chanda

♀ Girl

Pronounced CHUN-duh /ˈtʃʌn.də/Medium

Meaning: From Sanskrit chanda, 'fierce, hot, passionate' (also linked to the goddess Chandi). It also saw African-American use as a melodic given name in the 1970s.Medium

In 30 seconds: Chanda comes from Sanskrit chanda, 'fierce, passionate' (said 'CHUN-duh').
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Origin MediumSanskrit, Indian
MeaningFrom Sanskrit chanda, 'fierce, hot, passionate' (also linked to the goddess Chandi). It also saw African-American use as a melodic given name in the 1970s.
U.S. rank (2009)#13993 ↗ Rising
2009 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1976
Total births (all-time)≈ 6,078

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197619472009

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Chanda derives from Sanskrit chanda, 'fierce, passionate,' and is linked to the goddess Chandi; it also caught on as a melodic American girl's name in the 1970s. It crested around 1976 before fading, now a vintage name of that decade with an ancient root.

A few thousand American girls received it in all; Chanda now reads as a retro 1970s pick.

Did you know? Chanda peaked around 1976, part of the decade's fondness for soft, globally-sourced names, then faded.
Overall data confidence 66%
References — Chanda — Sanskrit chanda 'fierce'; 1970s US use

Variations

ChandraShandaChandi

Nicknames

ChanChandie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Chanda…

Indira— a like Sanskrit-rooted name
Kamala— a same-source Indian name
Shanda— a like sound-alike of the era
Chandra— a near cousin in sound and root

Explore names like Chanda

By themesanskritvintagenature1970s

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Chanda mean?

Chanda comes from the Sanskrit chanda, meaning 'fierce, passionate.'

How do you pronounce Chanda?

It's commonly said CHUN-duh /ˈtʃʌn.də/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Chanda a boy or girl name?

In the United States Chanda is used as a girl's name.

Is Chanda making a comeback?

Not widely — it's a nineteen-seventies favorite that has been uncommon since, a vintage name with a Sanskrit root.

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