Girl · #8,222 in 2026

Chera

The Chera dynasty, also known as Keralaputra, from the early historic or the Sangam period in southern India, ruled over parts of present-day states Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Cheras, known as one of the mu-ventar of Tamilakam alongside the Cholas and Pandyas, have been documented as early as the third century BCE.

Current Rank
#8,222
Peak Rank
#2,223 (1973)
Total Babies
468
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1957
First Year
1999
Last Year
1973
Peak Year
#2223
Peak Rank
468
Total Count
30
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Chera

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The Chera dynasty, also known as Keralaputra, from the early historic or the Sangam period in southern India, ruled over parts of present-day states Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Cheras, known as one of the mu-ventar of Tamilakam alongside the Cholas and Pandyas, have been documented as early as the third century BCE.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Ilango Adigal , a 2nd-century Chera prince and Jain monk , is credited with composing the Tamil epic Silappatikaram . The Dravidian title "Chera", along with its variants such as "Cheraman" and "Cheralar/Cheral", and its various Indo-Aryan equivalents like "Keralaputras" or "Kerala", refers to the ruling dynasty or family, the people, and the geographical region(s) associated with them. The title "Cheraman" is generally believed to be a shortened form of the phrase "Cheramakan", which is also considered the original root of the phrase "Keralaputras". The etymology of the term "Chera" remains a

The Story of Chera

Chera first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1957, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1973, when 35 Cheras were born — ranking #2,223 that year. As of 2026, Chera ranks #8,222 for baby girls with 11 births, with steady use. In total, more than 468 Cheras have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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PA
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NE
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Chera

Phonetically similar names — useful when Chera 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 Chera

What does the name Chera mean?
The Chera dynasty, also known as Keralaputra, from the early historic or the Sangam period in southern India, ruled over parts of present-day states Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Cheras, known as one of the mu-ventar of Tamilakam alongside the Cholas and Pandyas, have been documented as early as the third century BCE.
How popular is Chera in 2026?
In 2026, Chera ranks #8,222 among girls' names in the U.S., with 11 babies given the name that year.
When was Chera most popular?
Chera reached its peak popularity in 1973, ranking #2,223 that year with 35 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Chera most popular?
Chera has historically been most popular in Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Chera.
Is Chera a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Chera is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Chera?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Chera include Donice, Marketta, Solita. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Donice
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Marketta
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Solita
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Meka
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Cartina
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Cassady
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Nikayla
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Gleora
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About the name Chera

Chera is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1957 and has accumulated 468 births in the dataset. Chera's peak popularity came in 1973 when it ranked #2,223. Use the chart and map above to compare Chera's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.