Cherisse
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "beloved" or "cherished one".
Name Census estimates that about 962 living Americans carry the first name Cherisse. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cherisse today is around 47 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cherisse births was 1974 (47 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cherisse. 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
962
~ 1 in 356,293 Americans
Peak year
1974
47 babies that year
Average age
47
years old
2009 SSA rank
#15,649
Tracked since 1950
Popularity
Cherisse: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cherisse from the 1950s through to the 2000s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 335 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cherisse 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 Cherisse during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Cherisses live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. New York, California, New Jersey recorded the most babies named Cherisse, while Texas, New Jersey, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 69 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cherisse
Cherisse is a French feminine given name derived from the Old French word "chere" meaning "dear" or "beloved". It has its roots in the Latin word "carus" which means "dear" or "costly". The name gained popularity in France during the Middle Ages, particularly among the aristocratic and noble classes.
In medieval French literature, the name Cherisse was often used as a term of endearment or a pet name for a beloved lady. It was also a common name given to daughters born into families of high social standing, reflecting the affection and value placed upon them by their parents.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cherisse can be found in the 12th century French romance "Chrétien de Troyes", where it was used to refer to a character who was the object of a knight's affection. This suggests that the name was already in use among the nobility during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Cherisse. Cherisse de Valois, born in 1313, was a French noblewoman and the daughter of Count Charles de Valois. She was known for her beauty and was betrothed to the Duke of Burgundy at a young age.
In the 16th century, Cherisse de Montmorency was a renowned French courtier and lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine de' Medici. She was highly regarded for her wit and intelligence and played a significant role in the political affairs of the French court during her time.
The name Cherisse also found its way into religious circles. In the 17th century, Cherisse de la Croix was a French nun and mystic who founded the Order of the Daughters of the Divine Love. She was known for her profound spiritual writings and her devotion to charitable works.
Another notable Cherisse was Cherisse de Sévigné, born in 1626, who was a French aristocrat and celebrated letter writer. Her letters, which provided vivid accounts of the social and political life of her time, are considered literary masterpieces and are still widely read and studied today.
In the 18th century, Cherisse de Pompadour, born in 1721, was a prominent figure in the court of King Louis XV of France. She was not only the King's official mistress but also a talented patron of the arts, responsible for the construction of several iconic buildings and the promotion of various cultural and intellectual pursuits.
People
Cherisse + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cherisse 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
Cherisse: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cherisse?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 962 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cherisse 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 356,293 US residents.
Is Cherisse a common name?
We classify Cherisse as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,064 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cherisse most popular?
The single biggest year for Cherisse was 1974, when 47 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cherisse is about 47 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cherisse a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cherisse 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.