Cherie

Chérie is the French word for "darling", as in “mon chérie” (my darling). However, the first of the “Chérie” names to appear on the U.S. female naming charts in 1925 was Sherry, believed to have a different etymology. Sherry is an Anglicization of Searrach, an Irish-Gaelic clan name meaning “foal” (as in a baby horse). Sherry is also the Anglicization of “Jerez”, a town in southern Spain where the fortified wine is produced. However, as soon as Sherry hit the U.S. naming charts in 1925, Chérie soon followed in 1927 in order to more closely associate the name with the French “darling”, an even more pleasing etymology. This name, and all its many variations (Cheri, Cher, Cherilyn, Cheryl, Cherette, Cherryl, Sharalyn, Sharyl, Sherill, Sherilyn, Sheryl, Sheryll, Sherry, Shari, Sheree, Sheri, Sherie, Sherri and Sherrie) became particular favorites during the 1950s, 60s and early 70s. These names were also almost wholly restricted to the United States (i.e., used much more sparingly in other English-speaking nations).