Chase

📖 About Chase

Chase is an English masculine name derived from the Old French "chacier" (to hunt, to pursue), which entered English through the Anglo-Norman conquest. Originally a surname denoting a hunter or someone who lived near a chase (a tract of unenclosed land reserved for hunting), it transitioned to given-name use in the United States during the latter 20th century. The name carries inherently dynamic, action-oriented connotations — pursuit, ambition, energy — that aligned perfectly with the American preference for strong, verb-like masculine names. Chase rose rapidly in US popularity from the 1970s onward, peaking in the top 60-70 range during the 1990s and 2000s. In Australia, it arrived slightly later, entering the top 100 around 2010 and peaking at rank 59 in 2013 before a gradual decline. The name's appeal was reinforced by its associations with Chase Manhattan Bank (now JPMorgan Chase), lending it connotations of financial power and establishment prestige. In television, characters named Chase appeared in shows from 24 to Zoey 101 to House M.D., consistently portrayed as confident, driven figures. The animated series PAW Patrol, with its protagonist Chase the police dog, introduced the name to a new generation of children. Chase exemplifies the late-20th-century American naming innovation of converting action-word surnames into assertive, aspirational given names.

📊 Popularity Over Time