Chenille
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- sheh-NEEL
- Origin
- French
Chenille is a girls' name of French origin, meaning “caterpillar”. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Chenille mean?
French: French word chenille, from Latin canicula
“caterpillar”
French word for a caterpillar, used in English for a soft, fuzzy yarn and the fabric made from it.
Is Chenille a girl's or a boy's name?
Chenille is a girls' name.
How popular is Chenille in the UK?
No girls in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2003, with 8 girls.
Chenille in the UK, year by year
| Year | Girls | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 5 | #3,858 |
| 2006 | 3 | #5,259 |
| 2005 | 4 | #4,150 |
| 2004 | 5 | #3,356 |
| 2003 | 8 | #2,320 |
| 2002 | 3 | #4,284 |
| 2001 | 0 | – |
| 2000 | 0 | – |
| 1999 | 0 | – |
| 1998 | 3 | #4,026 |
Names like Chenille
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Jasmine, Chloe, Charlotte, Darcie, Grace, Sarah, Nicole, Hannah, Amber, Elise, Katie, Cassie
Names related to Chenille
More French names
Eleanor, Beau, Esme, Darcy, Genevieve, Amy, Esmae, Arleth, Elle, Russell, Monty, Mallory, Percy, Lacey, Belle, Quincy
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland) and Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Chenille: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/chenille, updated 20 October 2026.