Cheryl Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHER-uhl //ˈʃɛr.əl//
Origin: French; English
Meaning: French: darling; English: free man
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Cheryl is believed to have originated in the early 20th century as a modern English name, likely derived from the combination of the name "Cherie," which is French for "darling" or "dear," and the suffix "-el," a diminutive often used in English names. The earliest recorded use of Cheryl can be traced back to the 1920s, when it began to gain popularity in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States.
The name's etymology reflects a blend of French and English linguistic influences, showcasing the evolution of names through cultural exchange. Historically, Cheryl does not have significant references in ancient texts or notable historical figures, as it is a relatively modern creation.
However, its rise in usage can be linked to the broader trends of the 20th century, where names that evoke affection and warmth became favored among parents. The name gained further recognition through various cultural mediums, including literature and film, which helped solidify its presence in the English-speaking world.
Culturally, Cheryl has been associated with notions of charm and endearment, resonating with the qualities of kindness and affection that the root "Cherie" embodies. This connection to warmth and love has contributed to the name's appeal across generations.
Additionally, the name has seen variations and diminutive forms, such as Cher, which have also been embraced in various contexts. Overall, Cheryl represents a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural significance, reflecting the evolving nature of personal names in society.
Famous people named Cheryl
In this section, you will find notable people named Cheryl. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cheryl who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Cheryl who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Cheryl Crow is a singer-songwriter best known for All I Wanna Do, Soak Up the Sun, and If It Makes You Happy.
Cheryl Ladd is an actress best known for Charlie's Angels, The Mistle-Tones, and Poison Ivy.
Cheryl Tiegs is a model and actress best known for her work with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, The Big Bounce, and as a spokesperson for CoverGirl.
Cheryl Hines is an actress and director best known for Curb Your Enthusiasm, RV, and Waitress.
Cheryl Miller is a former professional basketball player best known for her achievements in women's basketball and coaching.
Cheryl Boone Isaacs is a film industry executive best known for her role as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Fictional characters named Cheryl
The following list of fictional characters named Cheryl is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Cheryl Blossom is a fictional character from the comic book series Archie Comics. She is a wealthy and confident teenager known for her fiery personality and complex relationships with other characters.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cheryl, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cheryl. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Cheryl was first seen in the United States in 1909.
Cheryl has ranked as high as #34 nationally, which occurred in 1958, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Cheryl has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Cheryl is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cheryl was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Cheryl (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 7 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cheryl.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2022 | 44 |
| 2021 | 47 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2019 | 41 |
| 2018 | 57 |
| 2017 | 56 |
| 2016 | 73 |
| 2015 | 55 |
| 2014 | 58 |
| 2013 | 55 |
| 2012 | 72 |
| 2011 | 65 |
| 2010 | 79 |
| 2009 | 64 |
| 2008 | 91 |
| 2007 | 85 |
| 2006 | 87 |
| 2005 | 103 |
| 2004 | 116 |
| 2003 | 115 |
| 2002 | 104 |
| 2001 | 143 |
| 2000 | 127 |
| 1999 | 173 |
| 1998 | 165 |
| 1997 | 198 |
| 1996 | 250 |
| 1995 | 255 |
| 1994 | 307 |
| 1993 | 374 |
| 1992 | 441 |
| 1991 | 539 |
| 1990 | 615 |
| 1989 | 731 |
| 1988 | 889 |
| 1987 | 959 |
| 1986 | 1,031 |
| 1985 | 1,224 |
| 1984 | 1,323 |
| 1983 | 1,562 |
| 1982 | 1,875 |
| 1981 | 2,116 |
| 1980 | 2,609 |
| 1979 | 3,210 |
| 1978 | 3,167 |
| 1977 | 2,121 |
| 1976 | 2,489 |
| 1975 | 2,997 |
| 1974 | 3,497 |
| 1973 | 4,010 |
| 1972 | 5,136 |
| 1971 | 6,327 |
| 1970 | 7,439 |
| 1969 | 8,346 |
| 1968 | 9,138 |
| 1967 | 10,768 |
| 1966 | 11,713 |
| 1965 | 12,552 |
| 1964 | 14,079 |
| 1963 | 15,046 |
| 1962 | 16,588 |
| 1961 | 18,299 |
| 1960 | 19,117 |
| 1959 | 20,949 |
| 1958 | 24,118 |
| 1957 | 22,644 |
| 1956 | 21,279 |
| 1955 | 19,110 |
| 1954 | 15,015 |
| 1953 | 12,265 |
| 1952 | 12,201 |
| 1951 | 11,986 |
| 1950 | 11,823 |
| 1949 | 12,007 |
| 1948 | 13,220 |
| 1947 | 13,890 |
| 1946 | 11,526 |
| 1945 | 8,149 |
| 1944 | 7,972 |
| 1943 | 2,878 |
| 1942 | 591 |
| 1941 | 442 |
| 1940 | 284 |
| 1939 | 289 |
| 1938 | 397 |
| 1937 | 145 |
| 1936 | 94 |
| 1935 | 99 |
| 1934 | 76 |
| 1933 | 60 |
| 1932 | 49 |
| 1931 | 49 |
| 1930 | 42 |
| 1929 | 44 |
| 1928 | 46 |
| 1927 | 32 |
| 1926 | 26 |
| 1925 | 21 |
| 1924 | 22 |
| 1923 | 28 |
| 1922 | 18 |
| 1921 | 18 |
| 1920 | 13 |
| 1919 | 12 |
| 1918 | 16 |
| 1917 | 22 |
| 1916 | 8 |
| 1914 | 7 |
| 1912 | 5 |
| 1909 | 5 |