Cherilyn
A feminine name of English origin meaning "cherished sweetheart".
Name Census estimates that about 1,969 living Americans carry the first name Cherilyn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cherilyn today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cherilyn births was 1972 (161 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cherilyn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
2.0K
~ 1 in 174,075 Americans
Peak year
1972
161 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
2016 SSA rank
#16,798
Tracked since 1941
Popularity
Cherilyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cherilyn from the 1940s through to the 2010s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 834 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cherilyn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cherilyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Cherilyns live
The SSA's state-level files cover 17 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Cherilyn, while South Carolina, Connecticut, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 37 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cherilyn
The name Cherilyn is an English feminine name that originated in the 20th century. It is a combination of the English name Cheryl, which is derived from the French name Cherie, meaning "darling" or "beloved," and the suffix "-lyn," which is a diminutive ending commonly used in English names.
The first recorded use of the name Cherilyn can be traced back to the early 20th century, around the 1920s or 1930s. It gained popularity in the United States and other English-speaking countries as a modern variation of the more traditional name Cheryl.
While the name Cherilyn does not have a direct historical reference in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its roots can be traced back to the French language and culture. The word "cherie" was commonly used as a term of endearment in French, and its incorporation into the name Cherilyn reflects the desire to convey a sense of affection and fondness.
One of the earliest recorded examples of a notable person bearing the name Cherilyn is Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPiere, better known as Cher, an American singer and actress born in 1946. Cher achieved widespread fame in the 1960s as part of the duo Sonny & Cher and later became a successful solo artist and actress.
Another well-known Cherilyn is Cherilyn Hawrysh, a Canadian politician and lawyer born in 1952. She served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and held various cabinet positions in the provincial government.
In the literary world, Cherilyn Ferroggiaro is an American author and teacher born in 1959, known for her works of fiction and non-fiction, including the novel "The Walking Boy."
Cherilyn Yazzie, born in 1957, is a Navajo basket weaver and artist who has contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of traditional Navajo arts and crafts.
Cherilyn Wilson is a British singer and songwriter born in 1969, known for her work as a vocalist and collaborator with various electronic music artists and groups.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Cherilyn, reflecting its enduring presence and appeal across various cultures and professions.
People
Cherilyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cherilyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cherilyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cherilyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,969 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cherilyn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 174,075 US residents.
Is Cherilyn a common name?
We classify Cherilyn as "Rare". It ranks above 93.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,358 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cherilyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Cherilyn was 1972, when 161 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cherilyn is about 53 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cherilyn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cherilyn in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.