How Many People Are Named Cheryl?
Complete statistics for the name Cheryl: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Cheryl, a name with Greek origins, means 'light' or 'brightness'. That's about 1 in 904 Americans who have this name, making it uncommon yet recognizable. With 77% of people named Cheryl over 60, it definitely skews towards an older generation.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 8 is often associated with leadership and authority, symbolizing success in business and financial matters.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 67All 440,480 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1958Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Cheryl Through the Generations
Cheryl peaked in popularity in 1958 with 24,177 births, reflecting its status as a classic name from mid-century America. Today, there are 365,032 people named Cheryl living in the US, with most over 60 years old. This age distribution suggests that Cheryl was a popular choice for parents during the post-war baby boom era, and now, as those children grow up, they're part of a generation that's aging together.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Cheryl's Greek roots
📄 About the Name Cheryl
How Many People Have the Name Cheryl?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 365,032 people in the United States currently share the name Cheryl. That works out to roughly 1 in every 904 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Cheryl a Common or Rare Name?
Cheryl is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Cheryl Mean?
Cheryl means "light" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Cheryl in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Cheryl Most Popular?
The name Cheryl reached peak popularity in 1958, with 24,177 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Cheryl?
Approximately 365,032 people named Cheryl live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 440,480. That works out to roughly 1 in 904 Americans.
Is Cheryl a rare name?
Cheryl is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 904 Americans has this name.
What does the name Cheryl mean?
Cheryl means "light" and comes from Greek origins.
Is Cheryl more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Cheryl are male and 100% are female.
When was Cheryl most popular?
Cheryl peaked in 1958 with 24,177 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.