At a glance
- U.S. rank 2025
- #13,208 of girl names (outside the top 1,000)
- Babies in 2025
- 6 (<0.01% of girls)
- Trend
- Slipping #4,880 in 2020 to #13,208 in 2025
- Peak
- #1,261 in 1995
- First recorded
- 1920
Meaning of Cherokee
Cherokee, pronounced cher-uh-KEE, is a lyrical tribute to one of North America’s most storied Native nations, weaving together imagery of sunlit woodlands, resilient spirit, and vibrant tradition. Though it’s never been the most common choice—hovering around the high 900s in recent U.S. popularity charts—it has quietly charmed families who crave a name that feels both adventurous and grounded. With its gentle vowels and spirited cadence, Cherokee carries an inspired blend of warmth and wanderlust, inviting its bearer to honor a proud heritage while charting her own path in the world. It’s the kind of name that feels ready for anything, from a backyard picnic to a grand storytelling circle—no special costume required.
How to pronounce Cherokee
English
- Pronounced cher-uh-KEE /ˈtʃərɛkɪ/
Popularity of Cherokee in the U.S.
Cherokee was the #13,208 girl name in the U.S. in 2025, with 6 babies. It peaked at #1,261 in 1995. It first appears in the records in 1920.
- Rank among U.S. girl names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Year-by-year table, 1920–2025 68 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 13,208 | ▼ 5,241 |
| 2024 | 13 | 7,967 | ▼ 1,045 |
| 2023 | 16 | 6,922 | ▲ 1,110 |
| 2022 | 13 | 8,032 | ▼ 3,199 |
| 2021 | 27 | 4,833 | ▲ 47 |
| 2020 | 26 | 4,880 | ▲ 1,106 |
| 2019 | 20 | 5,986 | ▼ 1,749 |
| 2018 | 33 | 4,237 | ▲ 240 |
| 2017 | 31 | 4,477 | ▼ 954 |
| 2016 | 44 | 3,523 | ▲ 1,061 |
| 2015 | 30 | 4,584 | ▲ 73 |
| 2014 | 30 | 4,657 | ▲ 1,805 |
| 2013 | 19 | 6,462 | ▼ 1,755 |
| 2012 | 30 | 4,707 | ▼ 864 |
| 2011 | 39 | 3,843 | ▲ 1,404 |
| 2010 | 26 | 5,247 | ▲ 290 |
| 2009 | 25 | 5,537 | ▼ 1,601 |
| 2008 | 40 | 3,936 | ▼ 150 |
| 2007 | 42 | 3,786 | ▼ 562 |
| 2006 | 51 | 3,224 | ▼ 255 |
| 2005 | 54 | 2,969 | ▼ 794 |
| 2004 | 82 | 2,175 | ▼ 50 |
| 2003 | 82 | 2,125 | ▼ 157 |
| 2002 | 89 | 1,968 | ▼ 67 |
| 2001 | 91 | 1,901 | ▼ 368 |
| 2000 | 118 | 1,533 | ▼ 102 |
| 1999 | 122 | 1,431 | ▼ 166 |
| 1998 | 143 | 1,265 | ▲ 97 |
| 1997 | 126 | 1,362 | ▼ 83 |
| 1996 | 135 | 1,279 | ▼ 18 |
| 1995 | 134 | 1,261 | ▲ 85 |
| 1994 | 124 | 1,346 | ▲ 294 |
| 1993 | 92 | 1,640 | ▲ 48 |
| 1992 | 89 | 1,688 | ▲ 448 |
| 1991 | 62 | 2,136 | ▲ 714 |
| 1990 | 40 | 2,850 | ▼ 192 |
| 1989 | 42 | 2,658 | ▲ 1,147 |
| 1988 | 24 | 3,805 | ▲ 2,118 |
| 1987 | 12 | 5,923 | ▼ 3,144 |
| 1986 | 34 | 2,779 | ▲ 1,204 |
| 1985 | 20 | 3,983 | ▲ 754 |
| 1984 | 15 | 4,737 | ▲ 147 |
| 1983 | 14 | 4,884 | ▲ 1,487 |
| 1982 | 10 | 6,371 | ▼ 1,408 |
| 1981 | 14 | 4,963 | ▲ 15 |
| 1980 | 14 | 4,978 | ▲ 114 |
| 1979 | 13 | 5,092 | ▼ 1,455 |
| 1978 | 20 | 3,637 | ▼ 271 |
| 1977 | 22 | 3,366 | ▼ 271 |
| 1976 | 23 | 3,095 | ▲ 542 |
| 1975 | 18 | 3,637 | ▲ 590 |
| 1974 | 14 | 4,227 | ▲ 135 |
| 1973 | 13 | 4,362 | ▼ 819 |
| 1972 | 17 | 3,543 | ▲ 3,076 |
| 1971 | 7 | 6,619 | back (not recorded in 1970) |
| 1969 | 10 | 4,723 | back (not recorded in 1965–1968) |
| 1964 | 5 | 6,767 | ▼ 876 |
| 1963 | 6 | 5,891 | back (not recorded in 1960–1962) |
| 1959 | 5 | 6,245 | back (not recorded in 1958) |
| 1957 | 9 | 4,202 | ▲ 265 |
| 1956 | 8 | 4,467 | ▲ 273 |
| 1955 | 7 | 4,740 | back (not recorded in 1953–1954) |
| 1952 | 7 | 4,483 | back (not recorded in 1950–1951) |
| 1949 | 5 | 5,244 | ▼ 1 |
| 1948 | 5 | 5,243 | back (not recorded in 1943–1947) |
| 1942 | 5 | 4,622 | back (not recorded in 1923–1941) |
| 1922 | 5 | 5,009 | back (not recorded in 1921) |
| 1920 | 5 | 4,975 | new |
Notable people named Cherokee
- Cherokee Rose was an Irish-bred racehorse who won major sprint races in 1995 and later became a successful broodmare.