NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Cherno

A masculine Bulgarian given name derived from the Slavic word for black.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Cherno is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cherno popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 3 births.

This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2007 to 2020. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Cherno. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Cherno ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 3 boys were registered as Cherno.
  • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cherno as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4608

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

2007

3 births

Estimated living

15

2026

Meaning

What does Cherno mean?

The name Cherno has its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. It is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "chern," meaning "black" or "dark." This name likely emerged during the early medieval period, around the 5th to 10th centuries AD.

In the Balkans, the name Cherno was often associated with the Orthodox Christian tradition, as it was a common name among monks and religious figures. The name appears in several historical records from the Byzantine Empire and the Orthodox Church's archives.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cherno can be found in the writings of the 11th-century Bulgarian scholar and writer, Cherno the Diak (Cherno the Scribe). He was a prominent figure in the Second Bulgarian Empire and is known for his contributions to the development of the Bulgarian literary language.

Another notable figure with the name Cherno was Cherno the Philosopher, a 14th-century Bulgarian scholar and writer who lived during the reign of Tsar Ivan Alexander. He was known for his philosophical and theological works, which were influential in the region.

In the 16th century, there was a Serbian Orthodox monk named Cherno of Zeta, who was a prominent figure in the Serbian Orthodox Church. He was known for his writings and his efforts in promoting education and literacy.

Moving to more modern times, one of the most famous individuals with the name Cherno was Cherno More, a Bulgarian revolutionary and national hero who lived in the 19th century (1828-1916). He played a significant role in the struggle for Bulgarian independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Another notable figure with the name Cherno was Cherno Peev (1914-1968), a Bulgarian writer and poet who was known for his works that depicted the lives of ordinary people and the struggles of the working class. His poetry was widely acclaimed and had a significant impact on Bulgarian literature.

While the name Cherno has Slavic roots and was historically more prevalent in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, it has also been used in other parts of the world, though to a lesser extent. It remains a distinctive name with a rich cultural and historical background.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Cherno over time

The chart below shows babies named Cherno registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Cherno, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Cherno
01223200720132020

Decades

Cherno by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cherno 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
2020s #4608 3 1
2010s #4750 9 3
2000s #4333 3 1

Related

Names similar to Cherno

FAQ

Cherno: questions and answers

How popular is the name Cherno in the UK right now?

In 2020, Cherno was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Cherno most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 3 babies registered as Cherno in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Cherno?

A masculine Bulgarian given name derived from the Slavic word for black.

How many people are called Cherno in the UK?

A total of 15 babies have been registered as Cherno across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.