Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Chet
Chet
Pronounced CHEHT /ΛtΝ‘ΚΙt/Medium
Meaning: Camp, fortressMedium
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Chet carries the sense of a camp or fortress, a short and grounded English name. It is best known today through two American figures: jazz trumpeter Chet Baker, a leading voice of West Coast cool jazz, and Basketball Hall of Famer Chet Walker. Its clipped, single-syllable form gives it an easygoing, mid-century American feel.
The name's brevity makes it sound informal and friendly, the kind of name that works comfortably on its own rather than as a shortening.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
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Chet Baker (1929β1988)American jazz trumpeter and vocalist, a leading figure in West Coast cool jazz.
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Chet Walker (1940β2018)American Basketball Hall of Fame player, NBA champion with the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Chet mean?
Chet is usually explained as meaning 'camp, fortress' and is most often linked with English tradition.
How do you pronounce Chet?
It's commonly said CHEHT /ΛtΝ‘ΚΙt/.
Is Chet a boy or girl name?
In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Chet is used as a boy name.
How popular is Chet?
In 2024, Chet ranked #2095 in the U.S. for boys, with 71 births recorded.