Tess
Tess was the 1794th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 113 babies. Its best year was 1992, when it ranked 467th with 529 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 674 places. More babies were named Tess in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,794 girls, down 513 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 113girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1992529 babies
- Total since 1880
- 14,770babies recorded
Tess popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,794 | 113 |
| 2020 | #1,281 | 175 |
| 2010 | #810 | 338 |
| 2000 | #551 | 475 |
| 1990 | #574 | 404 |
| 1980 | #5,522 | 13 |
| 1970 | #1,207 | 94 |
| 1960 | #2,569 | 23 |
| 1950 | #5,245 | 6 |
| 1940 | #4,295 | 6 |
| 1930 | #4,507 | 6 |
| 1920 | #2,068 | 19 |
| 1910 | #2,375 | 6 |
| 1900 | #1,219 | 11 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Tess, counting every spelling?
Tess has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #1,611 for girls in 2025, against #1,794 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Tess?
113 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Tess (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Tess 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 Tess.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Tess?
About 14,000 people born in the US named Tess are alive today, with a median age of 26; half are between 18 and 34. That makes Tess mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Tess by state
How common Tess was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Massachusetts (5.0×), Utah (3.6×), Illinois (1.9×). In 38 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 Tess: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Tess, they share its era and feel.
Tess is also a nickname for Tessa, Teresa and Therese.
Questions about the name Tess
How popular is the name Tess?
Tess was the 1794th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 113 babies. Its best year was 1992, when it ranked 467th with 529 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 674 places. More babies were named Tess in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Tess a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Tess in the US.
Where is Tess most popular?
In 2021–2025, Tess was most common in Massachusetts (0.36 per 1,000 girls), followed by Utah and Illinois.