Cher: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Cher

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1972

235 babies

All-time total

1,831

#5,205 all-time among girls

First recorded

1948

in Social Security records

Cher popularity over time

1,831 babies have been named Cher since 1948, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	5	–	5	1	–	#5,350
1950s	221	–	221	22	+4320%	#1,740
1960s	234	–	234	23	+6%	#1,754
1970s	964	–	964	96	+312%	#651
1980s	157	44	201	20	-79%	#3,233
1990s	73	66	139	14	-31%	#4,903
2000s	30	–	30	3	-78%	#7,250
2010s	23	–	23	2	-23%	#11,590
2020s (to 2025)	14	–	14	2	+1%	#11,305

The story of Cher

Cher is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1948, 1,831 American babies have been named Cher, about 94% girls and 6% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1972, when 235 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Cher stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Cher?

The median living Cher is about 52 years old; half are between 47 and 55. An estimated 1,700 people named Cher are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Cher year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	6	#13,840	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	8	#11,305	–	–
2019	8	#11,590	–	–
2018	5	#16,200	–	–
2017	5	#16,389	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	5	#17,126	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	6	#14,545	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	10	#9,648	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	14	#7,250	–	–
1995	–	–	5	#9,080
1990	19	#4,903	9	#5,451
1985	11	#6,092	–	–
1980	26	#3,233	–	–
1975	123	#995	–	–
1970	72	#1,435	–	–
1965	18	#2,950	–	–
1960	27	#2,252	–	–
1955	36	#1,740	–	–
1950	10	#3,458	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Cher

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Cher American singer and actress (born 1946) Contemporary
2 Cher Lloyd English singer (born 1993) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Cher, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Cher?

The median living Cher is about 52 years old. Half of all living Chers are between 47 and 55 years old.

How many people named Cher are alive today?

An estimated 1,700 people named Cher are alive in the United States, based on 1,831 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Cher mean?

A short form of the female given name Cherilyn, popularized as a given name by the singer Cher.

How popular is the name Cher in 2025?

Cher did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Cher?

1,831 babies have been named Cher in the United States since 1948, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cher most popular?

Cher peaked in 1972, when 235 newborns received the name.

Is Cher a boy or girl name?

Cher is used for both: about 94% of babies named Cher have been girls and 6% boys.

Is the name Cher rising or falling?

Cher is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Cher?

Well-known people named Cher include Cher (singer), Cher Lloyd (singer).

Names like Cher

Names that sound and feel close to Cher: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Cher with similar names → More names starting with C →