Cherokee
Cherokee is a girl's name of Indigenous American origin.
Meaning
People of different speech.
Origin and history
Cherokee is an Indigenous American name derived from the ethnonym for the Cherokee people. It gained usage in the United States as a place name and a rare given name during the late 20th century. It remains an uncommon female name in contemporary SSA records.
Popularity in the United States
2,572 babies in the United States have been named Cherokee since 1880. It ranks #3480 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2000.
States where it is most popular
- OK (23.4 %)
- OH (13.3 %)
- CA (11.8 %)
- TX (10.6 %)
- IN (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 10 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 15 |
| 1950-1960 | 36 |
| 1960-1970 | 21 |
| 1970-1980 | 147 |
| 1980-1990 | 199 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,067 |
| 2000-2010 | 674 |
| 2010-2019 | 302 |
| 2020-2029 | 101 |
Fun facts
- The name is adapted from the Choctaw word 'Cha-ra-kee', meaning 'people of different speech', used to describe the Cherokee people.
- While used continuously since the late 19th century, Cherokee remains a relatively rare choice for American girls.