Cherish
Feminine · Latin roots · “to hold dear”
Cherish is one of the rare English virtue names built from a verb rather than a noun — not the quality itself, but the act of holding something dear. The word reached English from Old French *cherir*, and it arrived on American birth records in the age of the pop ballad, when "Cherish" was a number-one song for The Association and later a hit again for Kool & the Gang and for Madonna. Three generations of radio have said this word out loud, which is why almost no one needs it spelled.
How old is the name Cherish?
Cherish first appears in US birth records in 1966 — 59 years ago. The typical Cherish alive today was born around 2006, making them about 19 years old. About 11,000 people named Cherish are estimated to be alive in the US today.
When was the name Cherish most popular?
Cherish peaked in 2007, reaching #643 nationally. Today it ranks #1373, 730 places below that high. See the whole 2007 chart.
Lists built from the same records:
Where it comes from
From carus (Latin) to Cherish
The story of Cherish
The root is Latin *carus*, "dear" — the same word that gave French *cher* and, through *caritas*, the English virtue name Charity. Old French turned it into the verb *cherir*, which Middle English borrowed as *cherisshen* sometime in the fourteenth century, and the modern spelling settled long before anyone thought of using it for a child. As a given name it belongs to the American tradition of naming from English words of value — Hope, Grace, Faith, Precious — but it joined that company late, appearing in the records only in the second half of the twentieth century, when the word was on the radio in three separate hit songs. It has been in continuous use ever since.
Meaning
to hold dear, to treasure
From Middle English *cherisshen*, from Old French *cherir*, from *cher* "dear" — ultimately Latin *carus*, "dear, beloved."
How the name formed
- carusLatin
- cherOld French
- cherirOld French
- cherisshenMiddle English
- Cherish
Related forms: Chérie · Cara · Charity · Carissa
Pronouncing Cherish
CHERR-ish
Two syllables, stress on the first, exactly as the ordinary English word. No regional variation to speak of.
Nicknames for Cherish
High
What the data says
146 years of official birth records
The long climb, and where it stands now
The same years in position rather than babies
- First recorded
- 1966
- Most girls named
- 2007461 — the highest on record
- Peak rank
- #643reached in 2007
- Change vs 2024
- +8.1%160 in 2025, from 148
Rank is a position, a count is a headcount, and they move independently — a name can hold its rank while the number of babies behind it falls. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration.
Cherish in other languages
The same name elsewhere
- Chérie in French — related form
- Cara in Italian — related form
- Charity in English — related form
- Carissa in English — related form
Strongest US states over the last decade: Florida, Texas, Illinois.
Cherishs among us
people named Cherish are estimated to be alive in the US today
About 1 girl in 10,045 born in 2025 was named Cherish
Estimated from SSA birth records and published actuarial life tables. Method
Is it right for you
What happens to a name after it peaks
The Trena test
Every popular name lives one long story — a climb, a peak, a slow settling back. Cherish's later chapters haven't been written yet, so we borrowed them: Trena climbed just as high around 1971, and its whole arc is on record. Line the two peaks up, and Trena's path sketches the road Cherish is walking now.
Cherish sits in the calm middle of the cycle — neither chasing a wave nor sliding off one. Middle-of-the-cycle names age slowly and predictably.
A scored estimate from 146 years of naming cycles — not a prophecy. Great names outlive statistics. How this is scored
Where Cherish is headed
Cherish is easing off slowly — about 17% fewer babies a year by 2030 if the trend continues.
Medium confidence — fitted on official counts through 2025.
A damped-trend projection of the official birth data — a sketch of momentum, not a promise. Every name's forecast, ranked.
Cherish beside its neighbors
The names ranked closest to Cherish in 2025, in babies rather than position — the bars are to scale.
US girls given each name in 2025.
The trade-off
- Spelling is never in question for English speakers — it is a common word, and most people write it correctly on first hearing.
- The meaning is fully legible without explanation, which few names of any origin can claim.
- Comes with ready-made short forms — Cher, Cheri, Cherry — each of which already exists as an independent name.
- Uncommon enough that a Cherish is very likely the only one in her school, without being unfamiliar as a word.
- A word-name says its meaning out loud every time it is used. Some bearers enjoy that; others find a name that means "treasured" a lot to carry through a roll call or a job interview.
- It is closely tied to the decades when the song titles were in the air, and its use has been easing back from its high point. It may read as belonging to a particular stretch of time rather than as ageless.
- Expect occasional slips toward Cherie, Sherise or Cherith by ear — the sound is familiar, but the name is rare enough that people reach for a neighbor.
Nobody names a baby alone.
Put Cherish to the vote.
Add it to a family vote or a couple’s swipe deck — the other person gets one card, a simple answer and room to say why. No app, no account for them.
Only the people you invite can see your list.
Already decided on Cherish? Hide it among decoys and let them guess.
What they receive
Someone added a name to your list
Cherish
Feminine · Latin roots · #1373 in the U.S.
Frequently asked
- How many Cherishs are there in the world?
- No country counts the world's names, so there is no worldwide figure — anyone quoting one is estimating. About 11,000 people named Cherish are estimated to be alive in the US today.
- How popular is the name Cherish in 2025?
- Cherish ranks #1373 among US girl names in 2025, with 160 babies given the name.
- How rare is the name Cherish?
- About 1 in every 10,045 US girls born in 2025 was named Cherish — 160 in all.
- Will my child share the name Cherish with classmates?
- Cherish will almost certainly be the only one in school.
Ranked beside Cherish
Names sitting at a similar level of popularity right now.
Tate#1373 · Keylani#1373 · Emani#1373 · Sanai#1373 · Asha#1373 · Montserrat#1373 · Ameera#1367 · Petra#1367
Looking for what else is popular rather than what resembles Cherish? See the current top 100.
Choosing between Cherish and another name?
See them side by side — full stats, history and a gentle verdict.
Compare side by sideIn a hurry? Just pick a winner — one tap, no sign-up, and you see how everyone else voted.
Weighing a whole shortlist? Add the rest in the builder, or settle it with a bracket.
Cast your vote
Which one would you pick?
Your gut first, the numbers after — the split shows once you pick.
US figures from the Social Security Administration. 1880–2025. Data & methodology
No advertising trackers and no data sellinghow we handle your dataindependent and founder-run, about Name Battle