Chanel
How to say it: shuh-NEL · /ʃəˈnɛl/
From the French surname Chanel, meaning 'channel' or 'pipe'; widely associated with fashion house Coco Chanel.
Chanel was the 1,097th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 170 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1990s, its births are down about 59% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,573 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,097 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 170 |
| Share of births | 1 in 19,502 |
| Peak decade | 1990s |
| Change over 10 years | −59% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,573 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,735 among girls’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Popularity for Chanel crested in the 1990s and has eased since. It stays close to that high today, with further easing expected.
What goes with it
Soft and breathy with a polished glow, Chanel feels chic and sleek. Paris and Margaux make natural companions.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Chanel is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #1,735 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Chanel
- Chanel Preston (born 1985)Former American pornographic actress
- Chanel Terrero (born 1991)Spanish-Cuban singer and actress
- Chanel Iman (born 1990)American model
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Chanel, Anglo-French luxury fashion house founded 1910 in Paris.
Keep exploring
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