UK girl's name
Cher
A French feminine name derived from 'chère' meaning 'beloved' or 'dear one'.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cher is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Cher popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 6 births.
This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1997 to 2015. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 41 living people in the UK are called Cher. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cher ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 6 girls were registered as Cher.
- • Cher ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #634 in 1991.
- • About 41 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cher as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
6 births
Estimated living
41
2026
Meaning
What does Cher mean?
The name Cher has its origins in the French language, where it is a shortened form of the feminine name Chère, meaning "dear" or "beloved." This name can be traced back to the Old French chiere, derived from the Latin cara, meaning "precious" or "valued."
In the Middle Ages, the name Chère was commonly used as a term of endearment, particularly in French literature and poetry. It was a popular name among the French nobility and upper classes during this period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cher can be found in the 12th-century French epic poem "The Song of Roland," where it is mentioned as a term of affection. The name also appears in various medieval French texts and manuscripts.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Cher. One of the earliest was Cher Ami, a famous homing pigeon during World War I, who received the Croix de Guerre medal for her bravery in delivering a crucial message despite being shot and injured.
In the realm of literature, Cher Herta Victor was a French author and playwright who lived from 1897 to 1967. Her works, including the play "Le Renard et les Raisins" (The Fox and the Grapes), were widely acclaimed.
Another notable figure was Cher Bono, the American singer, actress, and TV personality, born in 1946. She rose to fame as part of the duo Sonny & Cher and later enjoyed a successful solo career, winning numerous awards and becoming a cultural icon.
In the world of fashion, Cher Horowitz was the name of the protagonist in the 1995 film "Clueless," played by Alicia Silverstone. The character's name became synonymous with a particular style and attitude, influencing fashion trends of the time.
Additionally, Cher Thornton was a British singer and songwriter, born in 1959, who achieved success in the 1980s with hits like "Shake the Bamboo" and "Walking on the Broken Glass."
The name Cher, with its French roots and connotations of affection, has been embraced across various cultures and eras, leaving an indelible mark on history through the accomplishments of those who bore it.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cher over time
The chart below shows babies named Cher registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cher, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cher by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cher was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5730 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3941 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2809 | 10 | 2 |
Geography
Where Cher is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Cher. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Cher ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #634 in 1991.
Across the UK
Cher in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#634 in 1991
6 years of NRS records, 21 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Cher
-
Cher Lloyd
composer; songwriter; singer; recording artist; model
English singer
1993-
Related
Names similar to Cher
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Cher: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cher in the UK right now?
In 2015, Cher was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Cher most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 6 babies registered as Cher in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cher?
A French feminine name derived from 'chère' meaning 'beloved' or 'dear one'.
How many people are called Cher in the UK?
A total of 20 babies have been registered as Cher across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 21 more in Scotland.
Where is Cher most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Cher ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #634 in 1991. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.