Chance was originally an English surname. It has been used regularly as a first name since the 19th century. Its use might possibly have been infuenced by the movie Being There starring Peter Sellers, which was based on a novel of the same name by Jerzy Kozinski. Originally, as a first name, it was a diminutive form of Chauncey. It is now used on its own, used because it also is the English word meaning "luck; accident." The surname has the same meaning, from Old French. It is most often used for boys, but since the late 20th century it has been used for girls as well. See Also: Chauncey, Chansey