Where did the baby name Cheetara come from in 1985?

The character Cheetara from the animated TV series "Thundercats" (1985-1989).
Cheetara from “Thundercats

The curious name Cheetara first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in the mid-1980s, and it remained in the data for four successive years before falling back below the SSA’s 5-baby threshold:

  • 1989: unlisted
  • 1988: 9 baby girls named Cheetara
  • 1987: 29 baby girls named Cheetara
  • 1986: 36 baby girls named Cheetara
  • 1985: 7 baby girls named Cheetara [debut]
  • 1984: unlisted
  • 1983: unlisted

What put it there?

The animated TV series ThunderCats (1985-1989).

The main characters of the cartoon were cat-like humanoids with names like Lion-O, Tygra and Panthro.

But only the primary female character, Cheetara — who could run with cheetah-like speed — was able to boost her name into the SSA data.

Dozens of baby girls were named Cheetara in the ’80s, and dozens more were given variants of the name, such as:

1984198519861987
Shetara.8*3724
Chitara.8*119
Chatara.5*1721
Jatara.5*2021
Chetara..26*26
*Debut

What do you think of the baby name Cheetara? Would you consider using it?

Sources: ThunderCats – Wikipedia, SSA

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