Quick answer
Chelsea is a girl name meaning "landing place for chalk or limestone".
Meaning and history
This name comes from the name of a district in London, originally meaning "landing place for chalk or limestone", derived from Old English cealc "chalk, limestone, plaster" and hyð "port, landing place". This name was very rare until the late 1960s. It likely gained currency due to the actress Chelsea Brown (1942-2017; real name Lois), who began appearing on television in 1968, as well as Joni Mitchell's song Chelsea Morning (1969). It shot up in popularity after the 1981 release of the movie On Golden Pond, which featured a character by this name. It is currently in decline.
Notes and context
Usage: english