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Cherokee
Pronounced CHAIR-uh-kee /ΛtΚΙr.Ι.ki/Medium
Meaning: From the name of the Cherokee β a Native American people of the southeastern U.S. (their own name is Tsalagi/Aniyvwiya, 'the principal people'); a people/ethnonym; we note the ethnonymLow
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Cherokee comes from the name of the Cherokee β a Native American people of the southeastern U.S. (their own name is Tsalagi/Aniyvwiya, 'the principal people'; a people/ethnonym; we note the ethnonym). A lyrical, evocative name (said 'CHAIR-uh-kee').
In the U.S. it registers thinly. Rare, the-name-of-a-people, and evocative.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Cherokee mean?
Cherokee is the name of a Native American people; their own name is Tsalagi, 'the principal people'. We note the ethnonym.
How do you pronounce Cherokee?
It's said CHAIR-uh-kee /ΛtΚΙr.Ι.ki/ β three syllables, stress on the first.
Is Cherokee a boy or girl name?
Cherokee is a girl's name here.
How popular is Cherokee?
Cherokee is a very rare name in the U.S.