‘I Was Shocked’: Cher, 78, Reveals Her Real Name After Birth Certificate Mistake

Decades into her legendary career in music, Cher uncovered a shocking revelation about her identity—one linked to the name she thought she’d always known.

Pop legend Cher revealed a surprising detail in her latest memoir, “Cher: The Memoir, Part One.” The name she had always believed was hers—Cherilyn—was nowhere in her birth records.

Instead, the 78-year-old discovered she had been officially registered under a completely different name. “I was shocked to discover that I was officially registered as Cheryl,” the singer revealed in her book. The discovery came in the late 1970s, as she sought to legally change her name to simply “Cher.”

According to her memoir, Cher, confused by the discovery, turned to her mother, Georgia Holt, to ask if she was aware of her real name. Georgia, who was just 19 when she gave birth, replied, “Let me look at that!”

Reflecting on her postpartum experience, Georgia told her daughter, “I was only a teenager, and I was in a lot of pain. Give me a break.”

The mix-up originated shortly after Cher’s birth in 1946. Georgia, still recovering in the hospital, hadn’t decided on a name when a nurse asked for one. Inspired by actress Lana Turner’s daughter Cheryl and her own mother, Lynda, Georgia suggested “Cherilyn.” However, the name was never recorded correctly on official documents.

In 1979, the artist explained her decision to simplify her name to just “Cher,” stating that a single name reduced confusion about how people should address her, particularly in light of her marriages and public image.

As part of this decision, she dropped her surnames—Sarkisian, LaPiere, Bono, and Allman—to streamline her identity and establish a singular professional persona.

This deeply personal story is one...