Given name & surname
Cheikh
“a learned man”
Cheikh is used as a given name and a surname. One African interpretation is “a learned man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One African interpretation is “a learned man.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is African.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1992. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Cheikh through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 512
- 512 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 27 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #4,890 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +1%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,890 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 1.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 904 as a first name in 2020; 151 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
People named Cheikh
- Cheikh M'BengueSenegalese and French footballerborn 1988
- Cheikh Hadjibou SoumaréPrime Minister of Senegal, 2007-2009born 1951
- Cheikh SabalySenegalese footballerborn 1999
- Cheikh N'DiayeSenegalese and French footballerborn 1985
- Cheikh TouréFrench athleteborn 1970
- Cheikh GueyeSenegalese footballerborn 1986
- Cheikh Tidiane DioufSenegalese athlete (born 1995)
- Cheikh TiberghienFrench rugby union playerborn 2000
- Cheikh Sidy Baassociation football player (1968/1972–)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cheikh, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rael
“as innocent as a lamb”
85% boys · 15% girls
Menelik
“the son of a wise man”
>99% boys
Azi
“one who is youthful”
>99% boys
Nalo
“a lovable daughter” · “one who is lovable”
>99% boys
Tobechukwu
“one who praises God”
>99% boys
Bash
“the forerunner” · “one who likes to party”
>99% boys
Simba
“resembling a lion”
>99% boys
Kazi
“a hardworking man”
79% boys · 21% girls