Cher
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- SHAIR
- Origin
- French
Cher is a girls' name of French origin, meaning “dear, beloved”. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Cher mean?
French: from French chère 'dear'; also short for Cheryl or Cherilyn
“dear, beloved”
Made famous by the singer Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian.
More on Wiktionary.
Is Cher a girl's or a boy's name?
Cher is a girls' name.
How popular is Cher in the UK?
No girls in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 1999, with 7 girls.
Cher in the UK, year by year
| Year | Girls | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | #7,536 |
| 2017 | 0 | – |
| 2016 | 0 | – |
| 2015 | 3 | #5,983 |
| 2014 | 0 | – |
| 2013 | 0 | – |
| 2012 | 0 | – |
| 2011 | 1 | #7,717 |
| 2010 | 0 | – |
| 2009 | 0 | – |
| 2008 | 0 | – |
| 2007 | 0 | – |
| 2006 | 0 | – |
| 2005 | 4 | #4,150 |
| 2004 | 0 | – |
| 2003 | 0 | – |
| 2002 | 0 | – |
| 2001 | 0 | – |
| 2000 | 3 | #4,074 |
| 1999 | 7 | #2,295 |
| 1998 | 0 | – |
| 1997 | 4 | #3,345 |
How popular is Cher in the US?
No girls in the US were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 1972, with 235 girls. It first appears in the records in 1948.
Half of all the girls named Cher in the US since 1880 were born between 1969 and 1976, the years shaded on the chart below.
Cher in the US, year by year
| Year | Girls | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #13,472 |
| 2023 | 0 | – |
| 2022 | 0 | – |
| 2021 | 0 | – |
| 2020 | 8 | #11,085 |
| 2019 | 8 | #11,350 |
| 2018 | 5 | #15,677 |
| 2017 | 5 | #15,898 |
| 2016 | 0 | – |
| 2015 | 0 | – |
| 2014 | 5 | #16,507 |
| 2013 | 0 | – |
| 2012 | 0 | – |
| 2011 | 0 | – |
| 2010 | 0 | – |
| 2009 | 0 | – |
| 2008 | 0 | – |
| 2007 | 0 | – |
| 2006 | 0 | – |
| 2005 | 0 | – |
| 2004 | 6 | #14,172 |
| 2003 | 0 | – |
| 2002 | 10 | #9,476 |
| 2001 | 0 | – |
| 2000 | 14 | #7,152 |
| 1999 | 12 | #7,710 |
| 1998 | 8 | #10,116 |
| 1997 | 7 | #10,831 |
| 1996 | 5 | #13,511 |
| 1995 | 0 | – |
| 1994 | 5 | #13,423 |
| 1993 | 0 | – |
| 1992 | 7 | #10,471 |
| 1991 | 10 | #7,980 |
| 1990 | 19 | #4,863 |
| 1989 | 18 | #4,842 |
| 1988 | 19 | #4,491 |
| 1987 | 13 | #5,608 |
| 1986 | 16 | #4,721 |
| 1985 | 11 | #6,029 |
| 1984 | 12 | #5,538 |
| 1983 | 13 | #5,147 |
| 1982 | 14 | #4,943 |
| 1981 | 15 | #4,745 |
| 1980 | 26 | #3,215 |
| 1979 | 24 | #3,333 |
| 1978 | 18 | #3,924 |
| 1977 | 32 | #2,606 |
| 1976 | 69 | #1,499 |
| 1975 | 123 | #994 |
| 1974 | 103 | #1,124 |
| 1973 | 178 | #760 |
| 1972 | 235 | #651 |
| 1971 | 110 | #1,093 |
| 1970 | 72 | #1,430 |
| 1969 | 45 | #1,835 |
| 1968 | 37 | #1,975 |
| 1967 | 43 | #1,751 |
| 1966 | 32 | #2,057 |
| 1965 | 18 | #2,937 |
| 1964 | 0 | – |
| 1963 | 12 | #3,800 |
| 1962 | 7 | #5,292 |
| 1961 | 13 | #3,607 |
| 1960 | 27 | #2,245 |
| 1959 | 20 | #2,595 |
| 1958 | 33 | #1,907 |
| 1957 | 26 | #2,167 |
| 1956 | 24 | #2,248 |
| 1955 | 36 | #1,732 |
| 1954 | 23 | #2,239 |
| 1953 | 24 | #2,121 |
| 1952 | 13 | #3,039 |
| 1951 | 12 | #3,105 |
| 1950 | 10 | #3,422 |
| 1949 | 0 | – |
| 1948 | 5 | #5,241 |
Names like Cher
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Amber Darcie Amy Robyn Marnie Heather Holly Jessica Jennifer Sarah Erin Michelle
Names related to Cher
More French names
Eleanor Beau Esme Darcy Genevieve Esmae Arleth Elle Russell Monty Mallory Percy Lacey Belle Quincy Bruce
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland), Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency) and Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Cher: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/cher, updated 20 October 2026.