Cher

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHAIR /ˈʃɛər/High

Meaning: From the French cher/chere, 'dear; beloved; precious' — also a short form of Cherie or Cheryl. It is inseparably tied to the singer and actress Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian, which we note honestly.Medium

In 30 seconds: A one-beat French word name: Cher means 'dear; beloved' — and belongs to the singer (said 'SHAIR').

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Origin MediumFrench

MeaningFrom the French cher/chere, 'dear; beloved; precious' — also a short form of Cherie or Cheryl. It is inseparably tied to the singer and actress Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian, which we note honestly.

U.S. rank (2024)#13792 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1972

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,721

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cher is the French word for 'dear; beloved,' and a short form of Cherie or Cheryl. Since the 1960s it has belonged above all to Cher — the singer and actress born Cherilyn Sarkisian — a link we note honestly. It is also a French river and department. Sleek and instantly known (said 'SHAIR').

In the U.S. it appears rarely as a given name. Rare, chic, and pop-culture-marked.

Did you know? Cher the singer was born Cherilyn — she trimmed her own name to a single syllable, and the French word behind it means 'dear' (said 'SHAIR').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Cher — French cher 'dear'; singer Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian)

Variations

ChereCherieCheryl

Nicknames

CheeSher

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cher…

Cherie— the fuller French 'dear' name

Cheryl— a name Cher often shortens

Charmaine— a like French-flavored pick

Cartier— another French name

Belle— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Cher

By themeword-name short french pop-culture

By meaningLove Jewel / Gem Truth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cher mean?

Cher is French for 'dear; beloved,' and a short form of Cherie or Cheryl.

How do you pronounce Cher?

It's said SHAIR /ˈʃɛər/ — one syllable.

Is Cher a boy or girl name?

Cher is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Cher?

Cher is rare in the U.S. and strongly tied to the singer.