Cheryl vs Lilja
Cheryl and Liljacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Cheryl was ranked #475 and Lilja #910 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2022, Cheryl was ranked #5669 and Lilja #2888 among girls in England and Wales.
Cheryl and Lilja over time
Cheryl and Lilja appear together in 1 published list, across 11 years of shared records. Cheryl held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Lilja in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Cheryl reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Lilja in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls11 shared years, 2008–2022
Cheryl held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lilja in 1.
Highest recorded here: Cheryl #865 in 2009, Lilja #2717 in 2012.
The order changed in 2022: Lilja moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #2286 and #3541; by 2022 that had become #5669 and #2888.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Cheryl #5669, Lilja #2888.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Cheryl
Pairs where Cheryl shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christine vs Cheryl
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Christine #1 in 1952, Cheryl #11 in 1952.
Christine · Cheryl · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Peaked in the same years
- Susan vs Cheryl
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Susan #1 in 1954, Cheryl #11 in 1952.
Susan · Cheryl · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Peaked in the same years
- Kerry vs Cheryl
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kerry and Cheryl averaged 5.1 places apart, ending at #79 and #94.
Kerry · Cheryl · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Anne vs Cheryl
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Cheryl averaged 6.5 places apart, ending at #75 and #94.
Anne · Cheryl · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Cheryl | Lilja |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) | Norway · Girls #148 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cheryl and Lilja both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Cheryl
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Lilja
Popularity journey
First recorded1977
First recorded at #611 among girls in Norway in 1977 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1977–2025
Highest recorded position: #104 among girls in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1977–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls