Teressa
Teressa was the 17036th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1960, when it ranked 617th with 266 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 786 places. More babies were named Teressa in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Teresa) origin uncertain; perhaps from the island Thera · Spanish, Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #17,036 girls, down 2,101 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 5girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1960266 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,480babies recorded
What does the name Teressa mean?
Teressa is a spelling of Teresa, pronounced the same way, so it shares Teresa's meaning and origin.
Teresa is the Spanish and Italian form of Theresa. Wiktionary notes that the name first appears with a 4th-century Spanish saint, Therasia, the wife of Saint Paulinus of Nola, and that its origin is obscure. DMNES calls it of uncertain origin but possibly from Greek therizein 'to harvest'; another suggestion links it to Thera or Therasia, Greek island names. Neither is proven. The name spread through Saint Teresa of Ávila (16th century) and later Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Therasia (Late Latin, “early form of the name”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Origin unknown; DMNES allows a possible link to therizein 'to harvest'.
Other explanations you may read: Means 'harvester' (Greek therizein).
Related names: Theresa, Tessa, Terri, Tess, Thérèse.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Teresa', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Theresa', DMNES (Durham University)
Teressa popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #17,036 | 5 |
| 2020 | #14,935 | 6 |
| 2010 | #11,183 | 10 |
| 2000 | #5,139 | 23 |
| 1990 | #3,513 | 31 |
| 1980 | #1,763 | 63 |
| 1970 | #778 | 183 |
| 1960 | #617 | 266 |
| 1950 | #1,240 | 56 |
| 1940 | #3,186 | 9 |
| 1930 | #2,824 | 11 |
| 1920 | #2,349 | 16 |
| 1910 | #2,118 | 7 |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | #933 | 5 |
How popular is Teressa, counting every spelling?
Teressa is a spelling of Teresa, a name family that ranked #661 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #17,036 for Teressa on its own. Together these spellings went to 432 girls in 2025.
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 Teressa?
5 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Teressa (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Teressa 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 1,661 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Teressa.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Teressa?
About 5,400 people born in the US named Teressa are alive today, with a median age of 60; half are between 51 and 67. That makes Teressa a name most people associate with older generations.
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.
Teressa by state
How common Teressa was among girls born in each state in 1958–1962, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in South Carolina (4.8×), North Carolina (4.7×), Georgia (3.6×), Tennessee (3.2×), Oklahoma (3.0×). In 25 states fewer than five girls 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 Teressa: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Teressa, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Teressa
What does Teressa mean?
Teressa is a spelling of Teresa, usually explained as “origin uncertain; perhaps from the island Thera”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Teressa?
Teressa was the 17036th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1960, when it ranked 617th with 266 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 786 places. More babies were named Teressa in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Teressa a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Teressa in the US.
Where was Teressa most popular?
In 1958–1962, Teressa was most common in South Carolina (0.57 per 1,000 girls), followed by North Carolina and Georgia.