Sherea
A feminine name derived from English words meaning "she is noble".
Name Census estimates that about 212 living Americans carry the first name Sherea. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sherea today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sherea births was 1982 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sherea. 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
212
~ 1 in 1,616,766 Americans
Peak year
1982
19 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
1993 SSA rank
#13,185
Tracked since 1956
Popularity
Sherea: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sherea from the 1950s through to the 1990s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 119 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
Sherea 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 Sherea during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Sherea
The name Sherea is believed to have its origins in ancient Africa, likely derived from the Akan language spoken in parts of present-day Ghana and Ivory Coast. Its earliest roots can be traced back to the word "shera," which translates to "beauty" or "beautiful woman" in the Akan tongue.
While the exact timeline of its emergence as a given name remains uncertain, some historical accounts suggest that Sherea was a name bestowed upon women of great physical beauty and grace within certain West African tribes and kingdoms. Its usage may have been particularly prevalent among the Ashanti people, a prominent ethnic group known for their rich cultural traditions.
In terms of historical references, the name Sherea is not widely documented in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, it is believed to have been used among various African communities for centuries, passed down through oral traditions and cultural practices.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Sherea can be found in the late 18th century, when it was mentioned in the writings of European explorers and traders who encountered African societies during their travels. However, these accounts often lacked detailed context or background information about the name's significance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sherea, although their exact birth and death dates may not be well-documented. One such figure was Sherea, a revered healer and medicine woman from the Kru tribe of present-day Liberia, who lived during the late 17th century and was renowned for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional remedies.
Another prominent figure was Sherea, a skilled weaver and textile artist from the Yoruba people of present-day Nigeria, who lived in the early 19th century and was renowned for her intricate and vibrant designs, which often incorporated symbolic patterns and motifs.
In the 20th century, Sherea Gaddafi, the daughter of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, gained attention for her philanthropic work and advocacy for women's rights. Born in 1976, she was actively involved in various charitable initiatives and organizations focused on promoting education and empowerment.
Additionally, Sherea Kornegay, an American artist and sculptor born in 1955, has gained recognition for her captivating works that often explore themes of identity, culture, and the African diaspora.
Lastly, Sherea Buchanan, a Canadian entrepreneur and businesswoman born in 1978, has made her mark in the fashion industry, founding a successful clothing line that celebrates diverse beauty and empowers women of all backgrounds.
People
Sherea + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sherea as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sherea: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sherea?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 212 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sherea 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 1,616,766 US residents.
Is Sherea a common name?
We classify Sherea as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 231 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sherea most popular?
The single biggest year for Sherea was 1982, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sherea is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sherea a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sherea 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.