Cherylene

Meaning & origin

Cherylene is a feminine name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1944, a product of the mid-20th century's fondness for elaborate, blended names. It saw its peak year in 1946, during the post-World War II baby boom, but has never been a common name; it has consistently been used only a few times per year or less since the 1950s. The trajectory of the name has been stable at a very low frequency since the 1970s, with no resurgence in recent decades. Cherylene is not associated with any single state and has no top-ranked states in the data. The name is likely a combination of Cheryl (from French chérie, meaning 'dear') and the suffix -ene, a pattern seen in names like Marlene and Jolene. Because of its invented nature, Cherylene has no established meaning beyond its components. While rarely encountered today, it remains a distinctive choice that evokes the naming trends of the 1940s.

Cherylene appears to be a modern coinage from the mid-20th century, likely formed by blending Cheryl (a variant of Cherie, from French chérie meaning 'dear' or 'beloved') with the feminine suffix -ene (as in Marlene, Jolene). It emerged in the 1940s, first recorded in 1944, and saw its peak popularity in 1946. The name is a product of an era that favored inventive, melodious girls' names with familiar components.