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Original poster

Cheryl with a ‘ch’ not ‘ash’ sound

95 replies

0None0 · 20/07/2021 06:35

Posting for a friend who asked my opinion.

I’ve never considered it before, but I am surprised to say I love it

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RockingMyFiftiesNot · 20/07/2021 11:10

@HeronLanyon

Following the Cheryl example, wouldn’t Cherry have the Sherry problem (less so than, CHeryl admittedly)
I don't think so as the word spelt Cherry is always pronounced Ch, the word spelt Sherry always pronounced Sh. Unlike Cheryl which can be either..
DamsonJammyBastard · 20/07/2021 12:06

Have never heard of Cheryl with the CH pronunciation. I think Cheryl Cole must be the most famous Cheryl and she's a SH. Therefore I'd guess that's how the majority will assume it's pronounced.

Cherry is much nicer anyway.

HeronLanyon · 20/07/2021 12:19

rocking I agree. Even by mn standards my feared mispronunciation was a bit bizarre of me !

Maggiesfarm · 20/07/2021 12:22

I've only ever heard of it pronounced with a 'ch', not a 'sh' but have never actually known a 'Cheryl'.

It's a very uncommon name down south, eg London area.

Theforest · 20/07/2021 12:29

I always thought Cheryl was pronounced Ch and Sheryl was Sh.

But lots of people pronounce Cheryl with Sh these days

BunnyRuddington · 20/07/2021 12:50

Cheryl was fairly common around here years ago. I've only ever heard it pronounced with the Ch sound.

Bimblybomeyelash · 20/07/2021 12:54

I’ve said Cheryl Sheryl too many times , and now neither of them sound like real names 🤪

TatianaBis · 20/07/2021 13:19

I would always say Cheryl.

It’s a very 80s name - Sharon, Tracy, Jackie, Cheryl, Fay and Kelly would be friends.

Howshouldibehave · 20/07/2021 13:25

It reminds me of Sharon and Tracey-v much of that era.

They will also spend their life correcting the pronunciation as 99% of people will say Sheryl

KirstenBlest · 20/07/2021 13:40

@TatianaBis

I would always say Cheryl.

It’s a very 80s name - Sharon, Tracy, Jackie, Cheryl, Fay and Kelly would be friends.

Most of those are 1960s names.
MilduraS · 20/07/2021 13:45

I worked with a Cheryl who pronounced it that way. I heard enough people say it correctly to know how to pronounce it when I met her. It's not difficult to pronounce so I don't think she'd be correcting the same people over and over again.

MaMelon · 20/07/2021 13:45

I've always said CHeryl - it's only just dawned on me that Cheryl Cole is pronounced SH Confused

It's a 60s name - everyone I know with the name is in their fifties, along with the Sharons and Traceys.

Theoldcuriosityshop · 20/07/2021 13:47

Popular name in the 50s, we always pronounced it CH not Sh.

TatianaBis · 20/07/2021 13:47

I wasn’t alive in the 60s but I can tell you they were very much around when I was a teen in the 80s.

My feeling is they were kids who were named after actresses - Faye Dunaway, Cheryl Ladd, Jaqueline Smith/Bisset/Kennedy. Don’t know where Sharon and Tracy came from - the US is my guess.

carolinesbaby · 20/07/2021 13:49

I know 3 people called Cheryl, and they all pronounce it CH-eryl rather than SH-eryl. The range from mind 20's to mid 70's. It's not my favourite name.

DramaAlpaca · 20/07/2021 13:51

I think it was always pronounced with a CH sound originally in the 50s and 60s.

I'm sure the SH sound is a more recent thing.

longtompot · 20/07/2021 13:57

My friend is a Cheryl with a Ch. She however goes by a different first name by her friends. Her parents still call her Cheryl though.

EvilPea · 20/07/2021 14:00

I’d have always pronounced it CHeryl. SHeryl is the shhhh sound.

Everydays a school day

yikesanotherbooboo · 20/07/2021 14:04

My go to is also Chuh and not Sh.

ThanksIGotItInMorrisons · 20/07/2021 14:13

Don’t like it sorry. Plus agree with pp, people will get it wrong ALL THE TIME.

Simbacatisback · 20/07/2021 14:14

It is Ch?

Isnt Sh and americanism?

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 20/07/2021 15:11

@HeronLanyon

rocking I agree. Even by mn standards my feared mispronunciation was a bit bizarre of me !
That said, I can imagine people asking 'is that Cherry with a ch or a sh' !!!
HeronLanyon · 20/07/2021 15:21

Or chéri (chéri Blair) or cherry etc. Bloody hell it’s not straightforward !

KirstenBlest · 20/07/2021 15:32

Ms Booth is Chérie not Chéri.

KirstenBlest · 20/07/2021 15:41

@TatianaBis

I wasn’t alive in the 60s but I can tell you they were very much around when I was a teen in the 80s.

My feeling is they were kids who were named after actresses - Faye Dunaway, Cheryl Ladd, Jaqueline Smith/Bisset/Kennedy. Don’t know where Sharon and Tracy came from - the US is my guess.

Maybe Tat, but they would mostly be names of girls born in the 1960s or early 70s. Jackie probably 1950s and early 60s.

Kelly is a late 70s early 80s name, and little Kelly was probably at school with Emma, Sarah, Claire, Amy, Laura and Gemma, most of whom had the middle name Louise.