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At a Glance: Name: Cheryl – Origin: English (modern coinage, early 20th century) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: SHER-il
Cheryl is an English name that emerged as a modern coinage in the early 20th century, pronounced SHER-il. It's often claimed that Cheryl means 'dear one' or 'beloved,' but that's not settled — Wiktionary points out an equally plausible origin blending 'Cherry' and 'Beryl,' so no single meaning is confirmed.
Meaning & Origin of Cheryl
Origin: English (modern coinage, early 20th century).
A common claim: Cheryl is widely said to mean 'dear one' or 'beloved.' Actually: Cheryl may blend Cherie ('dear'), but Wiktionary considers it equally likely to blend Cherry and Beryl, which wouldn't carry a 'dear' meaning at all.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Cheryl
Phonetic: SHER-il IPA: /ˈʃɛrəl/
Popularity of Cheryl
SSA records for Cheryl span 1909 to 2024, showing a climb to its peak at #13 in 1958 with 24,118 babies given the name, then a long decline down to #3970 in 2024, with just 37.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1909–2024.
Make Cheryl Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Cheryl, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Cheryl mean?
Cheryl is widely said to mean ‘dear one’ or ‘beloved.’ Cheryl may blend Cherie (‘dear’), but Wiktionary considers it equally likely to blend Cherry and Beryl, which wouldn’t carry a ‘dear’ meaning at all.
How do you pronounce Cheryl?
Cheryl is pronounced SHER-il (IPA: /ˈʃɛrəl/).
Is Cheryl a popular name right now?
Cheryl peaked at #13 in 1958 and is ranked #3970 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1909–2024.)
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