Cheikh
Meaningelder or learned man · Wolof
Cheikh is an African boy name meaning “elder or learned man”, with Wolof roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a longer middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Cheikh would score 18 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationCheikh peaked in 2002, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Cheikh you'd meet today is about 23 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Cheikh would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 85,470 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryCheikh first shows up in US birth records in 1992, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 33 years since.
US births per million boys, 1992–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Cheikh
Cheikh is a boy name of African origin meaning “elder or learned man”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat with a crisp finish, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades and is still gaining fans. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
More African boy names
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Zaire · river
- Boy name: Omari · long-lived
- Boy name: Ermias · form of Jeremiah
- Boy name: Jabari · brave, fearless
- Boy name: Paulo · small
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
Questions about the name Cheikh
What does the name Cheikh mean?
Cheikh means “elder or learned man” and comes from Wolof. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Gakuto (“often learned person”).
What is the origin of the name Cheikh?
Cheikh is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Wolof. Other African names to consider are Cairo (“the victorious”), Asa (“healer”), Zaire (“river”) and Omari (“long-lived”).
Is Cheikh a boy or girl name?
Cheikh is a boy name. In 2025, 20 US boys were named Cheikh.
How popular is the name Cheikh?
Cheikh ranked #4,857 for US boys in 2025, given to 20 babies. Its best year was 2002, when it reached #3,554. Over the last five years it has climbed 842 places.
What names are similar to Cheikh?
If you like Cheikh, you might also like Gakuto.
What should I know before naming my baby Cheikh?
Cheikh is an African boy name meaning “elder or learned man”, with Wolof roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.