Biography

Cheryl is a commonly used female name in English-speaking countries. It gained popularity during the early Cold War years, particularly in the USA from the 1940s to the early 1980s, and in the UK from the 1950s to the early 1990s. The origins and etymology of the name have several theories. The most widely accepted theory suggests that it has Italo-Celtic roots and is an Anglicized form of the French name Cherie, derived from the Latin word cara, meaning "beloved". Another theory links it to the Welsh name Carys, which has a similar meaning to "Cara". This theory suggests that Cheryl was influenced by names like Meryl and Beryl, which were popular in the early 20th century. A less popular theory suggests that Cheryl has Germanic origins and is the feminine form of the male name Charles, meaning "free man". Variations of Charles include feminine names like Charlotte, Carly, Carla, and Caroline.