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Chico
How to Pronounce Chico
Pronounced CHEE-koh /ˈtʃiː.koʊ/High
Meaning: Chico comes from the Spanish word chico, meaning 'boy' or 'small,' and in American life it has functioned mainly as a nickname or stage name rather than a formal given name. Its use as a birth name reflects that affectionate, informal flavor.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
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
Chico is drawn straight from the Spanish chico, 'boy' or 'small,' a word of affection more than a traditional first name. In the United States it long served as a nickname or performer's name — comedian Chico Marx made it familiar early in the century. Its modest appearance on birth certificates crested in the late 1970s, the years of the popular sitcom 'Chico and the Man.'
Because it began as a nickname, Chico stayed uncommon as a given name and receded after its 1970s bump. A boy named Chico then is now in his forties. The name keeps a warm, informal, Spanish-language flavor and reads as a nickname-name rather than a rising formal choice.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Chico Marx (1887–1961)American comedian of the Marx Brothers, known for his piano act and stage persona.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Chico mean?
Chico is the Spanish word for 'boy' or 'small,' used chiefly as an affectionate nickname or stage name rather than a formal given name.
How do you pronounce Chico?
It's said CHEE-koh /ˈtʃiː.koʊ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Chico a boy or girl name?
Chico is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Chico?
Chico has always been rare as a birth name, with a small crest in the late nineteen-seventies around the sitcom of the era.