Cherry is a classic nickname, surname, and given name. Common in the first half of the 20th century, the name represented a staple in popular culture. Cherry Ames was the central character in a series of mid-century mystery novels, and Cherry Valance is the main character in The Outsiders franchise. Keep reading to learn more about this name.
Meaning and Origin of the name Cherry:
Cherry is an interesting name with several possible origins. The most common origin is that Cherry is the transferred use of the English occupational surname. This name originated from the Anglo-Norman French word cherise, and it indicated that its bearer was a cultivator or seller of cherries. Some etymologists believe that the surname could have also indicated a landmark (such as a town near a cherry orchard) or a nickname for someone with rosy cheeks or red hair. Similar theories apply to the German topographic surname Kirsch. The Middle High German word for “cherry” is kirse, and many German immigrants with the family name Kirsch used the surname Cherry upon arriving to England in the 1800s.
In addition to the surname, Cherry is also simply the name of the fruit. This name originated from the Latin word cerasium (or the Greek word kerásion). Finally, Cherry is a common nickname for Charity. This name originates from the Latin word cāritās and means “generous love.” Charity became a given name for girls during the Puritan era, and the nickname Cherry persisted for at least a century thereafter.
Symbolism of the name Cherry:
Cherry is a given name that originates from the occupational surname, the cultivated fruit, or the name Charity. In human history, the cultivation of cherries began in Asia Minor and later spread into Europe. Throughout the world, cherry trees represent the impermanent nature of life since the flowers are short-lived and the trees themselves require constant care. The symbol of this tree is the ornamental cherry blossom.
Nicknames for the name Cherry:
- Cher
- Cherr
- Che
- Erry
- Chere
- CiCi
Style of the name Cherry:
Classic
Gender of the name Cherry:
Cherry is a name given to both boys and girls.
Pronunciation of the name Cherry:
CHEHR-ee
Number of syllables in the name Cherry:
Two
Emotion evoked from the name Cherry:
The name Cherry evokes feelings of camaraderie and good cheer.
Alternative spellings for the name Cherry:
- Cherri
- Cherrie
Popularity of the name Cherry:
According to the Social Security Administration index, Cherry was the 4,411th most popular baby name for girls in 2020.
Related names for the name Cherry:
Great middle names for Cherry and their meanings:
- Ashton (ash tree town)
- Brielle (strength)
- Danika (morning star)
- Gentry (well-born)
- Jaden (God has heard)
- Manon (star of the sea)
- Rylan (island meadow, rye land)
- Skyler (scholar)
- Sonia (wisdom)
- Taylor (tailor)
- Wynn (fair, friend)
Famous people with the name Cherry:
- Cherry Chevapravatdumrong (screenwriter)
- Cherry Logan Emerson (chemist)
- Cherry Barbara Grimm (novelist)
- Cherry Kathleen Healey (television presenter)
- Cherry Alexandra Hood (painter)
- Cherry Blossom Iero (daughter of musician Frank Iero)
- Cherry Jones (actress)
- Cherry Kearton (photographer)
- Cherry Marshall (fashion model)
- Cherry Smith (vocalist)
Cherry in popular culture:
- Cherry(central character in the series of novels by Helen Wells and Julie Campbell Tatham)
- Cherry Clay (character in the Doctors series)
- Cherry Valance (character in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton)
The image featured at the top of this post is ©seb001/Shutterstock.com.