Cherish first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Cherish has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Cherish

Derived from the French word "chéri", meaning to adore, value, or hold dear.

Popularity of Cherish by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Cherish is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 130 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Cherish.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 130
2022 0 139
2021 0 196
2020 0 221
2019 0 251
2018 0 241
2017 0 256
2016 0 276
2015 0 289
2014 0 349
2013 0 347
2012 0 360
2011 0 386
2010 0 368
2009 0 422
2008 0 407
2007 0 461
2006 0 370
2005 0 206
2004 0 232
2003 0 200
2002 0 189
2001 0 196
2000 0 181
1999 0 159
1998 0 155
1997 0 179
1996 0 156
1995 0 162
1994 0 143
1993 0 183
1992 0 168
1991 0 175
1990 0 184
1989 0 222
1988 0 200
1987 0 243
1986 0 263
1985 0 192
1984 0 210
1983 0 160
1982 0 96
1981 0 73
1980 0 63
1979 0 77
1978 0 84
1977 0 103
1976 0 92
1975 0 104
1974 0 132

The history of the first name Cherish

The name Cherish is an English word derived from the Old French "cherir", which means "to hold dear or embrace fondly". It originates from the Latin word "carus", meaning "dear or beloved". The name Cherish first emerged in the late 16th century as a virtue name, reflecting the desire to cherish or deeply appreciate someone or something.

In the English-speaking world, the name Cherish initially gained popularity during the Puritan era, when virtue names were commonly used to express religious and moral values. The name was seen as a reminder to cherish and nurture one's faith, family, and loved ones.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cherish can be found in the 1632 book "A Collection of Records" by John Winthrop, where he mentions a woman named Cherish Haukridge. However, the name remained relatively uncommon until the late 20th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Cherish. In the 17th century, Cherish Stuyvesant (1628-1688) was a prominent Dutch-American woman known for her philanthropic work and contributions to the development of New York City. Another notable figure was Cherish Cooley (1857-1923), an American activist and suffragette who campaigned for women's rights and social reforms.

In the 20th century, Cherish Violette (1918-2003) was a renowned French artist and sculptor known for her abstract and surrealist works. Cherish Greenidge (1926-2012) was a Barbadian politician and diplomat who served as the first female President of the United Nations General Assembly from 1976 to 1977.

More recently, Cherish Finden (born 1972) is a British writer and journalist who has authored several books on parenting and family life, reflecting the name's association with nurturing and appreciation.

While the name Cherish has had a modest presence throughout history, it has gained increasing popularity in recent decades, reflecting a modern desire to express love, appreciation, and the value of cherishing meaningful relationships and experiences.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cherish was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cherish, please contact us.

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"Cherish first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/cherish-meaning-and-history/.

"Cherish first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/cherish-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Cherish first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/cherish-meaning-and-history/.

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