Chelyan is a census-designated place in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. Chelyan is located on the south bank of the Kanawha River, southeast of Chesapeake. It is served by Exit 85 of the West Virginia Turnpike. As of the 2010 census, its population was 776. The community has the name of Chelyan Calvert, the child of an early postmaster.