Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Cher
GirlFrench· “dear”
- Meaning
- dear
- Origin
- French
- Pronunciation
- SHEHR
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #651 (1972)
- Peak year
- 1972
Meaning and origin of Cher
Cher is a French name that means “dear”.
Cher is the French word for dear or beloved, and as a name it is used for girls in the English-speaking world. It is best known through the singer and actress Cher, who took the name as a shortened form of her birth name, Cherilyn. The feminine form of the French word is chère, and related names include Cherie, Sher and Sherry. It is said SHEHR, rhyming with air. Because one performer is so strongly tied to it, most people will think of her, but the name also works as a short, affectionate choice with a clear meaning.
Popularity over time
Cher first appears in US Social Security records in 1948. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 3 different years, starting in 1972. Its best national rank was #651 in 1972, the same year it reached its highest count of 235 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #3,458 in 1950, #3,233 in 1980, and #7,250 in 2000. Of the 1,721 US girls named Cher since records began, 56% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. Since 2010, 37 more have been named Cher.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Sharla, Candida, Niki, Trena, and Darcie.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Cher is usually pronounced SHEHR, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with C and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Cher
A few middle names that flow with Cher: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Cher
Similar names
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Lists that include Cher
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cher mean?
Cher is a French name that means “dear”.
What is the origin of the name Cher?
Cher has French roots. Cher is the French word for dear or beloved, and as a name it is used for girls in the English-speaking world.
Is Cher a popular name?
No. Cher was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Cher a boy or girl name?
Cher is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Cher?
Cher is usually pronounced SHEHR. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings