Terence
Terence was the 2753rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 47 babies. Its best year was 1964, when it ranked 241st with 1,014 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,155 places. More babies were named Terence in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Terrance) Origin uncertain · Latin
- Rank in 2025
- #2,753 boys, down 432 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 47boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19641,014 babies
- Total since 1880
- 34,460babies recorded
What does the name Terence mean?
Terence is a spelling of Terrance, pronounced the same way, so it shares Terrance's meaning and origin.
Terrance is a spelling of Terence, from the Latin Terentius, a Roman family name of unknown origin. Its best-known bearer is the Roman comic playwright Terence (2nd century BC). DMNES notes that in Ireland Terentius was used to render the Irish name Toirdhealbhach (Turlough) in Latin, which made Terence common among the Irish. Terrance, with its -ance ending, is chiefly an American spelling.
Terentius (Latin, “Roman family name of unknown origin”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The Roman family name Terentius has no agreed meaning.
Related names: Terence, Terrence, Terry.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Terrance', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Terence', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Terence', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Terrance', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Terence popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 170 since 1947.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,753 | 47 |
| 2020 | #2,321 | 59 |
| 2010 | #1,239 | 143 |
| 2000 | #800 | 202 |
| 1990 | #452 | 482 |
| 1980 | #411 | 395 |
| 1970 | #324 | 595 |
| 1960 | #288 | 754 |
| 1950 | #322 | 447 |
| 1940 | #499 | 136 |
| 1930 | #1,048 | 44 |
| 1920 | #1,033 | 46 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Terence, counting every spelling?
Terence is a spelling of Terrance, a name family that ranked #869 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #2,753 for Terence on its own. Together these spellings went to 263 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrance | 109 | #1,570 | 799 |
| Terrence | 107 | #1,600 | 656 |
| Terence | 47 | #2,753 | 244 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Terence?
47 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Terence (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Terence born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 179 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Terence.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Terence?
About 26,900 people born in the US named Terence are alive today, with a median age of 53; half are between 38 and 65. That makes Terence mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Terence by state
How common Terence was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 45 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Terence: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Terence, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Terence
What does Terence mean?
The origin of Terrance is uncertain: the Roman family name Terentius has no agreed meaning.
How popular is the name Terence?
Terence was the 2753rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 47 babies. Its best year was 1964, when it ranked 241st with 1,014 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,155 places. More babies were named Terence in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Terence a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Terence in the US.
Where is Terence most popular?
In 2021–2025, Terence was most common in Maryland (0.04 per 1,000 boys), followed by New York and Virginia.