Chase

The name Chase carries a clear and active sense: it comes from words for hunting and pursuit in Old French, so at its heart it suggests someone who seeks or pursues. That literal idea of pursuit can be understood simply as a hunter, but it also works more broadly as someone who goes after goals or adventures.

In tone, Chase feels modern and energetic. It has a straightforward, no-nonsense edge that reads as confident rather than ornate. Parents may hear it as outdoorsy and brisk, but also as a crisp word-name that sits comfortably alongside other contemporary names.

Chase began as a word and an occupational surname from Old French terms related to hunting and pursuit, introduced to English through medieval contact with Norman language and culture. As a surname, it identified people who were hunters or who lived near hunting grounds. Over the centuries the surname persisted in English-speaking communities.

Its adoption as a given name is relatively recent. Chase started to be used as a first name in the United States in the late twentieth century and gained wider popularity because of its crisp sound and single-syllable punch. While the meaning ties back to medieval hunting, modern use is less literal and more about the idea of ambition, activity, and focus. The name has become well established without losing its straightforward, word-name character.