Sherri

Sherri is a feminine given name that originated as a variant of Sherry. The name Sherry itself was likely inspired by the French word chérie, meaning "darling" (from the verb chérir, "to cherish"), or by the English word sherry, a fortified wine named after the Spanish town of Jerez. Sherri came into use during the 1920s, influenced by the growing popularity of similar-sounding names and by Colette's novels Chéri (1920, English translation 1929) and The Last of Chéri (1926, English translation 1932), where the name is used for a male character.

Cultural Significance

Sherri has also been used as a diminutive of names beginning with the Cher- or Sher- sound, such as Cheryl, Sharon, Sheryl, or Sherilyn. The name was well-used for girls in North America from the mid-1920s through the early 1990s, reaching its peak popularity between the mid-1940s and mid-1970s. During this period, spelling variants like Cheri, Cherie, Sharee, Shari, Sheree, Sherie, Sherrey, Sherrie, and Sherry also enjoyed wide vogue.

Notable Bearers

Sherri Baier (born 1964) is a former Canadian pairs figure skater who won the Canadian national championship in 1981. Sherri Coale (born 1965) is the former women's basketball head coach at the University of Oklahoma. Sherri DuPree-Bemis (born 1983) is an American singer and songwriter, known for the band Eisley. Sherri Shepherd (born 1967) is an American actress, comedian, and television personality. Sherri Saum (born 1974) is an American actress. Additionally, Sherri Papini gained notoriety after her 2016 kidnapping hoax, and Sherri Rasmussen (1956–1986) was a victim of a high-profile murder case.

Key Facts

• Meaning: "darling"; English variant of Sherry, inspired by French chérie or the wine sherry.
• Origin: English, 20th century.
• Usage: Feminine given name, primarily in North America.
• Variants: Cheri, Cherie, Sharee, Shari, Sheree, Sherie, Sherrey, Sherrie, Sherry.