Cheryl is a female

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

common in English speaking countries. There are several prevailing theories about its etymology. The most common is that it has Italo-Celtic roots and is an

Anglicised Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...

version of either the French name

Cherie Cherie is an English female given name. It comes from the French ''chérie'', meaning ''darling'' (from the past participle of the verb ''chérir'', ''to cherish''). Notable people with the name or stage name include: * Cherie, one of the stage n ...

(from Latin ''cara'', "beloved"; see also

Carissa (name) Carissa (Greek: Καρισσα, also transliterated as Charissa or Karissa) is a feminine given name of Greek origin derived from Greek χαρις (charis) meaning "grace." It can also be translated as "beloved." Coined by English poet Edmund Spen ...

) or the Welsh name

Carys Carys is a Welsh feminine given name, formed from the stem of the Welsh vocabulary word ''caru'', "to love" (''cf.'' third person '' câr'' "beloved friend" or "precious"), and the suffix ''-ys'', found in such names as '' Dilys'', '' Gladys' ...

(a cognate of "Cara"), modelled on names such as

Meryl Meryl is a given name, and may refer to: In people: * Meryl, a musical artist originating from the Martinique * Meryl Cassie (born 1984), New Zealand actress * Meryl Davis (born 1987), American ice dancer * Meryl Fernandes (born 1983), British ...

and

Beryl Beryl ( ) is a mineral composed of beryllium aluminium silicate with the chemical formula Be3Al2Si6O18. Well-known varieties of beryl include emerald and aquamarine. Naturally occurring, hexagonal crystals of beryl can be up to several mete ...

that were popular during the early decades of the 20th century. A less popular theory is that the name is Germanic in origin and is a feminine version of the Germanic male name Charles, which means "free man".Baby name Cheryl with meanings in Astrology
moonastro.com

Notable people

Cheryl (singer) Cheryl Ann Tweedy (born 30 June 1983) is an English singer and television personality. Born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, she rose to fame in late 2002 upon winning a place in Girls Aloud, a girl group created through ITV's '' Popstars: ...

, formerly known as Cheryl Cole, English singer and television personality * Cheryl A. M. Anderson, American epidemiologist *

Cheryl Arutt Cheryl Arutt (born May 13, 1966) is an American commercial, print, television, and film actress and a clinical and forensic psychologist and media consultant. She co-hosts and is a regular member of the Behavior Bureau on HLN's panel show ''Dr ...

, American actress and psychologist *

Cheryl Baker Rita Maria Stroud (''née'' Crudgington; born 8 March 1954), known professionally as Cheryl Baker, is an English singer and television presenter. She was a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, who won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and now p ...

, British television presenter and former musician *

Cheryl Barker Cheryl Ruth Barker (born 22 April 1960, Sydney) is an Australian operatic soprano who has had an active international career since the late 1980s. She has sung on several complete opera recordings with Chandos Records, including the title ro ...

, Australian operatic soprano *

Cheryl Bentov Cheryl Ben Tov (Hebrew: שריל בנטוב), born Cheryl Hanin in 1960, is an American real estate agent and former Israeli Mossad agent who became well known in 1986 when, under the name "Cindy", she persuaded former Israeli nuclear technician ...

, Israeli Mossad agent *

Cheryl Burke Cheryl Burke (born May 3, 1984) is an American dancer, model, and television host. She is best known for being a professional dancer on ABC's '' Dancing with the Stars''. She was the first female professional to win the show and the first prof ...

, professional dancer *

Cheryl Campbell Cheryl Campbell (born 22 May 1949) is an English actor of stage, film and television. She starred opposite Bob Hoskins in the 1978 BBC drama '' Pennies From Heaven'', before going on to win the 1980 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for ''Testamen ...

, British actress *

Cheryl Carolus Cheryl Carolus (born 27 May 1958) is a South African politician. She was born in Silvertown, on the Cape Flats, Cape Town. Carolus became involved in politics while still at school and became an activist after joining the United Democratic Fro ...

, South African politician *

Cheryl Casone Cheryl Cecile Casone (born July 18, 1970) is an American television news anchor on the Fox Business. Casone serves as a financial contributor and provides weekly job reports. She also reports on the Fox News. Early life Born in Clearwater, Flo ...

, American journalist *

Cheryl Chase (activist) Bo Laurent, better known by her pseudonym Cheryl Chase (born August 14, 1956), is an American intersex activist and the founder of the Intersex Society of North America. She began using the names Bo Laurent and Cheryl Chase simultaneously in the ...

, American intersex activist *

Cheryl Chase (actress) Cheryl Chase (born Cheryl Christine Hudock; born December 25, 1958) is an American actress and children's book author. She is best known for voicing Angelica Pickles in the television series ''Rugrats'' and its spinoffs '' All Grown Up!'', ''A ...

, American voice actress *

Cheryl Chase (politician) Cheryl Chase (born February 5, 1953) is a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives from January 2001 until January 2007. She was first elected to the House in November 2000, representing District 7. After redistricting in 2002, Chase ...

, American politician *

Cheryl Chin Cheryl Chin is a Singaporean television and film actress. She was formerly known as a Singapore television actress and fashion model who competed in and won the Star Search Singapore finals in 2003. She also received the best actress award. S ...

, Singaporean-American actress *

Cheryl Crane Cheryl Christina Crane (born July 25, 1943) is an American retired real estate broker, author and former model. She is the only child of actress Lana Turner. Her father was Turner's second husband, actor-turned-restaurateur Steve Crane. She was ...

, daughter of actress Lana Turner who was tried for the murder of her mother boyfriend *

Cheryl Fergison Cheryl Fergison (born 27 August 1965) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Heather Trott in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' a role in which she starred in from 2007 until 2012. Career After training at Rose Bruford ...

, British actress *

Cheryl Ford Cheryl Ford (born June 6, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player. As a member of the Detroit Shock, she won the WNBA championship three times. Personal life Cheryl Ford is the daughter of Bonita Ford and former NBA player ...

, American basketball player *

Cheryl J. Franklin Cheryl J. Franklin (born 11 September 1955), is a science fiction and fantasy writer. Biography Cheryl Jean Franklin was born in Pasadena, California on 11 September 1955. Franklin graduated from the University of Redlands with a degree in Mathe ...

, American writer *

Cheryl Gallant Cheryl Gallant (born May 23, 1960) is a Canadian politician who represents the riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke in the House of Commons of Canada. She is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. She is currently the longest-serving w ...

, Canadian politician *

Cheryl Gamble Clemons Cheryl Elizabeth Gamble (formerly Clemons; born June 13, 1970), better known by her stage name Coko, is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer of the R&B vocal trio SWV, Sisters With Voices (SWV). Aside from her R&B career, G ...

, American singer, known as Coko *

Cheryl Gillan Dame Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan (; 21 April 1952 – 4 April 2021) was a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Chesham and Amersham from 1992 until her death in 2021. A member of the Conservative Party, she served a ...

, British politician *

Cheryl A. Gray Evans Cheryl Artise Gray Evans (born 1968, New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American lawyer and politician. She represented District 5 in the Louisiana State Senate prior to her resignation in 2009. She formerly served in the Louisiana House of Repres ...

, Louisiana politician *

Cheryl Hall Cheryl Hall (born 23 July 1950 in London) is a British actress. She is best known for playing Shirley Johnson in the British sitcom ''Citizen Smith'' (1977–1979) and had a recurring role as Sadie in ''The Bill'' (1984–1988). Biography One ...

, British actress * Cheryl Hickey, Canadian TV presenter *

Cheryl Hines Cheryl Ruth Hines (born September 21, 1965) is an American actress and director, best known for playing the role of Larry David's wife, Cheryl, on HBO's ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'', for which she has been nominated for two Emmy Awards. She also sta ...

, American actress *

Cheryl Holdridge Cheryl Lynn Holdridge ('' née'' Phelps; June 20, 1944 – January 6, 2009) was an American actress, best known as an original cast member of ''The Mickey Mouse Club''. Early life Holdridge was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her mother, Juli ...

, American actress *

Cheryl Hole Cheryl Hole (born 18 October 1993) is the stage name of Luke Underwood-Bleach, an English drag queen from Chelmsford in Essex who is known for being one of the first contestants on ''RuPaul's Drag Race UK'' (2019) and later the first season of ' ...

, British drag queen *

Cheryl James Cheryl Renee James (born March 28, 1966), better known by her stage name Salt, is an American rapper. She is best known as a member of the female rap trio Salt-N-Pepa, which also includes Pepa ( Sandra Denton) and Spinderella ( Deidra "Dee Dee" ...

, American rapper, known as Salt *

Cheryl Keeton Cheryl Keeton (October 27, 1949 – September 21, 1986) was a Portland, Oregon lawyer who was found dead inside her Toyota van on the Sunset Highway (Oregon) by a passing motorist. Her husband, with whom she was embroiled in a divorce, was fou ...

, U.S. lawyer and murder victim *

Cheryl Kennedy Cheryl Kennedy is an English actress and singer. Early life and career She was born in Enfield, Middlesex, and educated at a convent. Her first appearance was at the age of 15 at Stratford East Theatre Workshop in ''What a Crazy World''. She ...

, English actress *

Cheryl Kernot Cheryl Zena Kernot (née Paton, formerly Young; born 5 December 1948) is an Australian politician, academic, and political activist. She was a member of the Australian Senate representing Queensland for the Australian Democrats from 1990 to 199 ...

, Australian politician * Cheryl Ladd, American actress and singer *

Cheryl Lynn Cheryl Lynn (born Lynda Cheryl Smith; March 11, 1957) is an American singer. She is best known for her songs during the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, including the 1978 R&B/disco song "Got to Be Real". Lynn's singing career began with her ...

, American singer *

Cheryl Gates McFadden Cheryl Gates McFadden (born March 2, 1949) is an American actress and choreographer. She is usually credited as Cheryl McFadden when working as a choreographer and Gates McFadden for acting work. She is best known for playing Beverly Crusher, Dr. ...

, American actress and choreographer *

Cheryl Miller Cheryl D. Miller (born January 3, 1964) is an American former basketball player. She was formerly a sideline reporter for NBA games on TNT Sports and also works for NBA TV as a reporter and analyst, having worked previously as a sportscaster fo ...

, American basketball player *

Cheryl Miller (actress) Cheryl Lynn Miller (born February 4, 1943) is an American actress and musician. Early years A California native, Miller is one of two children of an architect and film studio set designer, Howard Miller and accountant mother and travel agent, El ...

, American actress *

Cheryl Perera Cheryl Perera (born 1986) is a Canadian children's rights activist. As a teenager, she founded OneChild, a non-governmental organization which seeks to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children abroad. For her work, and in particu ...

Sri Lankan Canadian Sri Lankan Canadians refers to people from Sri Lanka who have arrived and settled in Canada. Among these immigrants include members from the Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor, Malay and Burgher ethnicities. According to the 2021 census there are 136,240 ...

children's rights activist *

Cheryl Rixon Cheryl Rixon (born 12 October 1954 in Perth, Western Australia) is an Australian actress and model. She was chosen as the December 1977 Pet Of The Month for '' Penthouse'' and two years later as Pet of the Year in 1979. Rixon now lives in the U ...

, Australian actor and model *

Cheryl Rubenberg Cheryl A. Rubenberg (January 3, 1946 – 16 June 2017)Valerie J. Hoffman,Cheryl A. Rubenberg 1946–2017Review of Middle East Studies, Volume 52, Issue 1 April 2018 , pp. 170-172 was a writer and researcher specializing in the Middle East, formerl ...

, American researcher *

Cheryll Sotheran Dame Cheryll Beatrice Sotheran (11 October 1945 – 30 December 2017) was a New Zealand museum professional. She was the founding chief executive of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and was credited with the successful completion of ...

, New Zealand museum professional *

Cheryl Stone Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance company focused on contemporary dance. It was founded by African American dancer and choreographer Carole Y. Johnson, Gumbaynggirr man Rob Bryant, and South African-born C ...

, South African-born co-founder of

Bangarra Dance Theatre Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance company focused on contemporary dance. It was founded by African American dancer and choreographer Carole Y. Johnson, Gumbaynggirr man Rob Bryant, and South African-born ...

, an Indigenous dance company in Australia *

Cheryl Strayed Cheryl Strayed (; née Nyland; born September 17, 1968) is an American writer and podcast host. She has written four books: the novel ''Torch'' (2006) and the nonfiction books '' Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail'' (2012), ''Tin ...

, American author *

Cheryl Studer Cheryl Studer (born October 24, 1955) is an American dramatic soprano who has sung at many of the world's foremost opera houses. Studer has performed more than eighty roles ranging from the dramatic repertoire to roles more commonly associated ...

, American operatic soprano *

Cheryl Tiegs Cheryl Rae Tiegs (born September 25, 1947) is an American model and fashion designer. Frequently described as the first American supermodel, Tiegs is best known for her multiple appearances on the covers of the ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit ...

, American model *

Cheryl Valentine Cheryl Valentine (born 8 April 1980, in Dundee) is a female field hockey midfield player from Scotland. She played over 100 times for the Scotland women's national field hockey team, Women's National Team. She played club hockey for Bonagrass Gr ...

, Scottish field hockey midfielder *

Cheryl West Cheryl L. West (born October 23, 1965, Chicago) is an American playwright. Life West holds a degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She worked as a social worker and taught before turning to playwriting. In 1990, she came to ...

, American playwright *

Cheryl Wheeler Cheryl Wheeler (born July 10, 1951) is a Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter of contemporary folk music. She has recorded thirteen folk albums to date and has toured extensively throughout the United States since the mid-1970s. Heralded as a ...

, American singer

Fictional characters

Cheryl Blossom Cheryl Marjorie Blossom is a fictional character of the Archie Comics universe. She is a wealthy teenage girl, the privileged daughter of a businessman. The live action version of Cheryl is portrayed by Madelaine Petsch in '' Riverdale''. Histor ...

, Archie Comics character

References

{{given name English feminine given names Scottish feminine given names Welsh feminine given names

Notable people

Fictional characters

See also

References