A Surprising Discovery
Cher shares a personal story in her new memoir, Cher: The Memoir, Part One released on November 19. Born Cherilyn Sarkisian, she later found out her birth certificate listed her name as Cheryl. This shocked Cher, as she had always believed her name was Cherilyn. “I believed Cherilyn was my name until I legally changed it to Cher,” she wrote. That change revealed the truth about her name.
The Day Cher Was Born
In 1946, Cher’s mother, Georgia Holt, gave birth as a teenager. The labor was long and unmedicated, leaving her exhausted. Cher was born at 7:30 a.m. on May 20, 1946. While Georgia rested, a nurse came in and asked for her baby’s name.
Coming Up with a Name
Georgia didn’t have a name ready. Pressured by the nurse, she made one up. “My mom loved Lana Turner, whose daughter was Cheryl,” Cher explained. “She also wanted to honor her own mother, Lynda. So she combined them and came up with Cherilyn.” Georgia gave the nurse the name, but the nurse wrote Cheryl on the birth certificate instead.
The Truth Comes Out
Cher grew up thinking her name was Cherilyn. She only found out the truth years later when she saw her birth certificate. Shocked, Cher asked her mom, “Do you even know my real name?” Her mom shrugged and said, “I was a teenager, in pain, and tired. Give me a break.”
Becoming “Cher”
Cher didn’t let the discovery bother her. In 1979, she legally changed her name to Cher. This name became a symbol of her strength and individuality.
Lessons from a Mistake
The name mix-up became a small but meaningful part of Cher’s life. It showed her how life’s twists shape who we are.
Owning Her Story
Cher’s story is about embracing every part of life, even mistakes. She turned her name into a symbol of empowerment. Through her memoir, Cher shows how owning your identity makes you stronger. Whether she’s Cherilyn, Cheryl, or just Cher, her story inspires us to celebrate our unique paths.
