Sheryl Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHER-ul //ˈʃɛr.əl//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: darling; French: from the name Cherie
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Sheryl is believed to be a modern variant of the name Cheryl, which itself originated as a blend of the names Cherie and the suffix -el. The name Cherie is derived from the French word "cher", meaning "dear" or "beloved", while the suffix -el is often used in names to convey a sense of endearment or diminutive form.
The transition of Cheryl into Sheryl occurred in the mid-20th century, reflecting a trend in English-speaking countries to create unique or alternative spellings of established names. Cheryl gained prominence in the English-speaking world in the 20th century, particularly after its introduction in the United States during the 1940s.
It was popularized further by notable figures, including the American singer Cheryl Crow, who emerged in the 1990s. The name Sheryl appeared as a derivative form around the same time, likely influenced by the desire for distinctiveness in naming practices.
The name has been used in various cultural contexts, including literature and music, contributing to its recognition. Culturally, names like Sheryl carry connotations of affection and warmth, aligning with their etymological roots.
The use of -el in Sheryl can evoke a sense of familiarity and closeness, which has historically resonated with parents seeking names that convey love and attachment. While Sheryl itself does not have a long historical lineage, its connections to earlier forms and its evolution reflect broader trends in naming practices that prioritize personal significance and emotional resonance.
Famous people named Sheryl
In this section, you will find notable people named Sheryl. 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 Sheryl who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Sheryl 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.
Sheryl Crow is a singer-songwriter best known for All I Wanna Do, If It Makes You Happy, and Soak Up the Sun.
Sheryl Sandberg is a business executive best known for Lean In, Facebook COO, and her work on women's leadership.
Sheryl Lee is an actress best known for Twin Peaks, Wild at Heart, and The Man in the Moon.
Fictional characters named Sheryl
The following list of fictional characters named Sheryl 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.
Sheryl is a fictional character from the video game series The Legend of Heroes. She is a key supporting character who provides guidance and assistance to the protagonist throughout their journey.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Sheryl, 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 Sheryl. 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 Sheryl was first seen in the United States in 1921.
Sheryl has ranked as high as #206 nationally, which occurred in 1957, and has been most popular in California, Michigan, New York, Illinois, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Sheryl has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Sheryl 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 Sheryl was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Sheryl (2019)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 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 Sheryl.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 24 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2010 | 32 |
| 2009 | 27 |
| 2008 | 45 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2006 | 28 |
| 2005 | 26 |
| 2004 | 47 |
| 2003 | 54 |
| 2002 | 31 |
| 2001 | 35 |
| 2000 | 45 |
| 1999 | 52 |
| 1998 | 46 |
| 1997 | 53 |
| 1996 | 58 |
| 1995 | 68 |
| 1994 | 73 |
| 1993 | 89 |
| 1992 | 83 |
| 1991 | 109 |
| 1990 | 118 |
| 1989 | 135 |
| 1988 | 153 |
| 1987 | 175 |
| 1986 | 198 |
| 1985 | 198 |
| 1984 | 220 |
| 1983 | 218 |
| 1982 | 300 |
| 1981 | 319 |
| 1980 | 357 |
| 1979 | 412 |
| 1978 | 445 |
| 1977 | 386 |
| 1976 | 452 |
| 1975 | 575 |
| 1974 | 675 |
| 1973 | 795 |
| 1972 | 953 |
| 1971 | 1,192 |
| 1970 | 1,471 |
| 1969 | 1,704 |
| 1968 | 1,885 |
| 1967 | 2,240 |
| 1966 | 2,212 |
| 1965 | 2,535 |
| 1964 | 2,957 |
| 1963 | 3,105 |
| 1962 | 3,242 |
| 1961 | 3,124 |
| 1960 | 3,054 |
| 1959 | 3,540 |
| 1958 | 3,792 |
| 1957 | 4,132 |
| 1956 | 3,891 |
| 1955 | 3,412 |
| 1954 | 2,930 |
| 1953 | 2,399 |
| 1952 | 2,242 |
| 1951 | 1,935 |
| 1950 | 2,110 |
| 1949 | 1,971 |
| 1948 | 2,008 |
| 1947 | 1,835 |
| 1946 | 1,632 |
| 1945 | 1,055 |
| 1944 | 950 |
| 1943 | 588 |
| 1942 | 324 |
| 1941 | 195 |
| 1940 | 155 |
| 1939 | 135 |
| 1938 | 154 |
| 1937 | 77 |
| 1936 | 57 |
| 1935 | 32 |
| 1934 | 31 |
| 1933 | 24 |
| 1931 | 12 |
| 1930 | 5 |
| 1929 | 9 |
| 1928 | 10 |
| 1927 | 10 |
| 1926 | 7 |
| 1925 | 6 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1923 | 6 |
| 1921 | 7 |