Terrell
Terrell was the 1538th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 113 babies. Its best year was 1985, when it ranked 255th; the most babies were born in 1989 (983). Over the last ten years it has moved down 647 places. More babies were named Terrell in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Anglo-Norman, English
Say it TAIR-ul /ˈtɛrəl/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,538 boys, down 406 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 113boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1989983 babies
- Total since 1880
- 38,087babies recorded
What does the name Terrell mean?
Terrell is a surname of Norman origin (also Tyrrell, Terrill), used as a first name mainly in the US. Wikipedia traces the family to the Norman Walter Tirel and suggests possible meanings such as "stubborn" or a link with the god Thor, without settling on one; Wiktionary gives no etymology. Terrell was most popular as a first name in the US from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Tirel (Anglo-Norman, “surname of uncertain meaning”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The meaning of the Norman surname Tirel is uncertain.
Related names: Tyrell, Terrill, Tyrrell, Terry.
See also: French names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Terrell', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Terrell (surname)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Terrell popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,585 since 1920.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,538 | 113 |
| 2020 | #1,132 | 173 |
| 2010 | #640 | 378 |
| 2000 | #409 | 608 |
| 1990 | #282 | 925 |
| 1980 | #317 | 604 |
| 1970 | #432 | 354 |
| 1960 | #535 | 219 |
| 1950 | #470 | 203 |
| 1940 | #540 | 119 |
| 1930 | #1,189 | 36 |
| 1920 | #1,016 | 47 |
| 1910 | #1,816 | 5 |
| 1900 | #1,043 | 8 |
| 1890 | #1,146 | 5 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Terrell, counting every spelling?
Terrell is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,407 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,538 for Terrell on its own. Together these spellings went to 118 boys 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 Terrell?
113 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Terrell (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Terrell 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 74 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Terrell.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Terrell?
About 32,000 people born in the US named Terrell are alive today, with a median age of 36; half are between 25 and 47. That makes Terrell 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.
Terrell by state
How common Terrell was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Louisiana (2.6×), Michigan (2.6×), Illinois (2.3×), Georgia (2.3×), Ohio (1.9×). In 30 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 Terrell: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Terrell, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Terrell · Sibling names for Terrell
Questions about the name Terrell
What does Terrell mean?
The origin of Terrell is uncertain: the meaning of the Norman surname Tirel is uncertain.
How popular is the name Terrell?
Terrell was the 1538th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 113 babies. Its best year was 1985, when it ranked 255th; the most babies were born in 1989 (983). Over the last ten years it has moved down 647 places. More babies were named Terrell in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Terrell a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Terrell in the US.
Where is Terrell most popular?
In 2021–2025, Terrell was most common in Louisiana (0.20 per 1,000 boys), followed by Michigan and Illinois.