Holding steady.
Popularity of Cheray since 1964
Babies named Cheray per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 47 |
| 1970s | 26 |
| 1980s | 31 |
| 1990s | 24 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Cheray is a rare, phonetically coined name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1964, reflecting mid-century trends toward creative spellings. Its peak usage came in 1966, but it has never entered the top 1000. With a stable trajectory, it remains outside the one-in-$n$ category (null) and is not tied to any top states. The name likely draws inspiration from French cherie (dear) or Hebrew shira (song), but its exact derivation is uncertain. Cheray embodies the playful, individualistic naming style of the 1960s, favored by parents seeking a distinctive yet familiar-sounding choice.
Cheray first appeared in U.S. records in the 1960s, a period when creative spellings and phonetic variants were popular. It may derive from Cherie, the French word for 'dear,' or from the Hebrew name Shira, meaning 'song.' The spelling with 'Ch' is characteristic of modern English coinages, where names are formed by blending sounds or respelling existing names for a distinctive look.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cher, Ray
Sibling names for Cheray
Names that share Cheray's style, for a brother or sister.
