Chase

Hunt; a surname associated with a huntsman

Chase has a brisk sound and a surname history. This English masculine given name comes from a family name associated with a huntsman. Its underlying Middle English word meant “hunt”; the word’s older French roots explain why both English and French appear in accounts of its origin. In English, Chase rhymes with face: the ch begins as in chair, the ending is an unvoiced s, and the final e adds no syllable. That firm opening and brief ending give the name a clean, energetic feel. I hear it as contemporary and unfussy, with the surname background adding a sense of continuity. It may appeal if you like a full name with the compactness of a nickname.

Etymology: From the English surname Chase, based on Middle English chase, “hunt”, with older French word roots.