• Z3k3@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    Chad is a name I had never heard before rhe memes is it common in the US?

    • fubo@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      “Chad” is an old English name. In WWII, it was used by British soldiers in a form of the “Kilroy was here” meme. It was not common in the US prior to the 1940s, so we can hazard a guess that Americans picked it up from Brits during WWII.

      It peaked in popularity for baby boys in the early 1970s. Around 20 years later, it became identified as a stereotypical name for an upper-class “frat boy” in Chicago. The more recent slang usage is a distant descendant of that usage.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_(name)
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilroy_was_here

      • Z3k3@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        The fact it was old English kinda blows my mind. I’m from Scotland and never once heard it. Interesting read thank you