| Pronunciation | /ˈʃɛrəl/ SHERR-əl or /ˈʃɛrɪl/ SHERR-il |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | English via Welsh and French |
| Meaning | Dear Beloved Friend and Love |
| Region of origin | English-speaking world |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Sheryl (alternate spelling) Cherie Cara Karina Carys |
Cheryl, occasionally spelt Cheryll, is a female given name common in English-speaking countries.
There are several prevailing theories about its etymology. The most common is that it has Italo-Celtic roots and is an anglicised version of either the French name Cherie (from Latin cara, "beloved"; see also Carissa (name)) or the Welsh name Carys (a cognate of "Cara"),[1] modelled on names such as Meryl and Beryl that were popular during the early decades of the 20th century.[citation needed]
A less popular theory is that the name is Germanic in origin and is a feminine version of the Germanic male name Charles, which means "free man".[2][better source needed]
Notable people with the first name include: