Name meaning & stats
Cheryl
Cheryl means “darling”. 438,869 US babies since 1940, peak 1958. Notable Cheryls are 1.3× over-represented as politicians.
What it means
“darling”
Debated
A modern coinage.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1958
438,869 US babies were named Cheryl between 1940 and 2025.
Where Cheryls end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | 0.9× | High · 32 people |
| Politician | 1.3× | High · 26 people |
| Writer | 0.8× | Medium · 18 people |
| Singer | 1.0× | Medium · 16 people |
Among notable women who are politicians, Cheryls show up 1.3× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Cheryl has a surprise career: 1.4×
Spelling family
Cheryl is the main spelling
- Cheryl 97%
- Cheryle 1%
- Cheryll 1%
- Cherryl <1%
- Cherelle <1%
- Cherrelle <1%
- Cherrell <1%
- Cherell <1%
- Cherl <1%
- Cheril <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1958)