Tesa
Tesa was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1976, when it ranked 2330th; the most babies were born in 1992 (47). More babies were named Tesa in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Tessa) short form of Teresa · English, Spanish
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 199247 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,382babies recorded
What does the name Tesa mean?
Tesa is a spelling of Tessa, pronounced the same way, so it shares Tessa's meaning and origin.
Tessa is a short form of Teresa (Theresa). DMNES calls Theresa of uncertain origin, possibly from Greek therízō, "to harvest", and notes it stayed in Spain and Portugal until the fame of Saint Teresa of Ávila in the 16th century. Tessa itself has been used as an independent English name since the 19th century.
Teresa (Spanish, “Theresa (origin uncertain)”)
How sure is this? Well established. Tessa as a short form of Teresa is clear; Teresa's own meaning is uncertain.
Other explanations you may read: Teresa means 'harvester'.
Related names: Teresa, Theresa, Tess.
See also: Spanish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Tessa', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Theresa', DMNES, Durham University
Tesa popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | #9,182 | 13 |
| 2000 | #4,776 | 25 |
| 1990 | #4,220 | 24 |
| 1980 | #2,860 | 32 |
| 1970 | #3,560 | 18 |
| 1960 | #5,651 | 7 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Tesa, counting every spelling?
Tesa is a spelling of Tessa, a name family that ranked #337 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 978 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tessa | 978 | #311 | 5,069 |
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 old are people named Tesa?
About 1,300 people born in the US named Tesa are alive today, with a median age of 36; half are between 27 and 49. That makes Tesa 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.
Tesa by state
How common Tesa was among girls born in each state in 1990–1994, around its peak. In 49 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 Tesa: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Tesa, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Tesa
What does Tesa mean?
Tesa is a spelling of Tessa, which means “short form of Teresa” (English, Spanish origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Tesa?
Tesa was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1976, when it ranked 2330th; the most babies were born in 1992 (47). More babies were named Tesa in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Tesa a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Tesa in the US.
Where was Tesa most popular?
In 1990–1994, Tesa was most common in Ohio (0.01 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and California.