Total births
349
Girls' name · since 1948
Sherl
Since 1948, U.S. Social Security records show 349 babies named Sherl, peaking in 1964. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 349
- total births
- 1948–1978
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 47%
- born in that decade
Sherl sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 349 recorded since 1948.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Sherl has been recorded 349 times among girls since 1948, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1960s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1948 to 1978.
- 349 total births
- 1948–1978 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 47% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
349 girls have been named Sherl since 1948, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 1978.
- 349
- total births
- 1948–1978
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 47%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
47% of everyone ever named Sherl was born in this single decade.
1964
Single peak year
29 babies were named Sherl in 1964 - its busiest year on record.
Sherl's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Sherl splits its recorded history at 1960: 56% of all births land in the more recent half, 44% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1968 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1964 peak of 29 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Sherl at a glance
Last recorded 1978Peak year
1964
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1948
Sherl popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1948–1978
- Peak year (1964)
- 29
- Annual births at peak, across 31 years of records
Sherl popularity over time - boys
5 total births recorded since 1933 (Sherl as boys' name)
Sherl by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Sherl's strongest decade.
163 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 47% of all-time use.
Sherl births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 13
1940s
13 births
- 1950s
1950s
142 births
- 1960s
1960s
163 births
- 1970s 31
1970s
31 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 163 births (47% of all-time use).
Sherl by state
Where Sherl concentrates geographically, total births since 1948
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Virginia | | 5 | 1.4% |
Virginia share of Sherl's total US births 1.4%
5 of 349 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Sherl? ▼
Since 1948, Social Security records show 349 babies named Sherl. The most recent recorded year was 1978. Its busiest year on record was 1964, with 29 births.
When was Sherl most popular? ▼
Sherl was most popular in the 1960s decade with 163 total births. The single peak year was 1964.
Where is Sherl most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Sherl are Virginia (5 births).
How long has the name Sherl been used? ▼
Sherl has been recorded in Social Security data since 1948, spanning 31 years of data through 1978.
What names are similar to Sherl? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Sheila, Sherry, Shelby, Shelly, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Sherl's data
- Sherl's decade-level peak was the 1960s (163 total births); usage has since declined to 31 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Virginia records the most Sherls (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Virginia names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Sherl
Nearby Names Like Sherl
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Sherl
Sheila Girl
#2013 238,774 births
Sherry Girl
#6948 229,937 births
Shelby Girl
#658 148,830 births
Shelly Girl
#4580 84,420 births
Sherri Girl
#8493 83,667 births
Compare Sherl side by side: Sherl vs Sheila Sherl vs Sherry Sherl vs Shelby
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1948–1978 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Sherl: Baby Name Since 1948 - 349 Births, Peak 1964." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/sherl. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Sherl draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.