Meaning & History
Sheree is a variant of Sherry or Cherie, English given names with distinct origins. The name was popularized in the mid-20th century, notably by American actress Sheree North (born Dawn Shirley Crang, 1932–2005). Her stage name helped cement this particular spelling in popular culture.
Etymology
Sheree is ultimately derived from the French word chérie, meaning “darling,” from the past participle of chérir (“to cherish”). It may also be associated with the English word sherry, a fortified wine named after the Spanish town of Jerez. The name entered English usage in the 1920s, influenced by similar-sounding names and Colette’s novels Chéri (1920) and The Last of Chéri (1926), where it appears as a masculine name. Additionally, it coincides with an Irish surname Anglicized from Gaelic Mac Searraigh, meaning “descendant of Searrach” (a byname meaning “foal”).
Usage
Sheree has also been used as a diminutive of names containing the Cher- or Sher- sounds, such as Cheryl, Sharon, or Cherilyn. The name was particularly well-used in North America from the mid-1920s through the early 1990s, reaching peak popularity between the mid-1940s and mid-1970s. Spelling variants such as Cherie, Cherry, Shari, Sherie, Sherrey, Sherri, Sherrie, and Sherry were all fashionable during this period.
Notable Bearers
Notable individuals named Sheree include:
- Sheree Bautista (born 1981), Filipino singer, actress, dancer, and model
- Sheree Bradford-Lea, Canadian freelance cartoonist and mixed-media artist
- Sheree Fitch (born 1956), Canadian children's author
- Sheree Harris (born 1959), New Zealand cricketer
- Sheree Gray (born 1937), American theologian
Related Names
Variants of Sheree include Cheri, Cherie, Cherryl, Cheryl, Shari, and Sharyl. Diminutive forms include Cher and Cherette.
- Meaning: Derived from French “chérie” (darling) or the wine sherry
- Origin: English, ultimately from French
- Type: Given name (female)
- Usage Regions: Primarily English-speaking, especially North America
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Sheree