Cher
Cher is an American singer and actress. Dubbed the "Goddess of Pop", she is known for her androgynous, contralto voice, bold fashion, elaborate stagecraft and multifaceted career. Her screen roles often reflect her public image as a strong-willed, outspoken woman. An influential figure in popular culture, Cher has sustained a career spanning more than six decades through continual reinvention.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Cher
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Cher is an American singer and actress. Dubbed the "Goddess of Pop", she is known for her androgynous, contralto voice, bold fashion, elaborate stagecraft and multifaceted career. Her screen roles often reflect her public image as a strong-willed, outspoken woman. An influential figure in popular culture, Cher has sustained a career spanning more than six decades through continual reinvention.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Cher
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Cher as a girl name dates back to 1948, when 5 babies received it. 1972 was its biggest year on record, with 235 newborns named Cher — #651 in the national rankings. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 56% of all recorded Chers. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 2K Chers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Cher on the record books as a boy name in 1981, with 8 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1991, when 16 Chers were born — ranking #3,635 that year. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 60% of all recorded Chers. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1996 (11 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 110 Chers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Cher
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Cher. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Where is Cher most common?
Predicted country distribution based on naming patterns globally.
- United States43%
- Saint Lucia18%
- Singapore13%
- United Kingdom13%
- Netherlands12%
Source: Nationalize.io . Probabilities are global naming-pattern estimates, not strict counts.
Names that sound like Cher
Phonetically similar names — useful when Cher is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cher
What does the name Cher mean?
What is the origin of the name Cher?
How popular is Cher in 2026?
When was Cher most popular?
In which U.S. states is Cher most popular?
Is Cher a unisex name?
What names go well with Cher?
What are nicknames or variants of Cher?
About the name Cher
Cher is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1948 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Cher's peak popularity came in 1972 when it ranked #651. Use the chart and map above to compare Cher's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1972 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.