Theresa
Theresa was the 1559th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 136 babies. Its best year was 1956, when it ranked 32nd; the most babies were born in 1961 (11,960). Over the last ten years it has moved down 363 places. More babies were named Theresa in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Teresa) origin uncertain; perhaps from the island Thera · Spanish, Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #1,559 girls, down 149 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 136girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 196111,960 babies
- Total since 1880
- 405,831babies recorded
What does the name Theresa mean?
Theresa 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)
Theresa popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 1,218 since 1895.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,559 | 136 |
| 2020 | #1,410 | 156 |
| 2010 | #923 | 282 |
| 2000 | #418 | 679 |
| 1990 | #196 | 1,499 |
| 1980 | #104 | 2,925 |
| 1970 | #53 | 6,411 |
| 1960 | #35 | 11,847 |
| 1950 | #65 | 5,628 |
| 1940 | #102 | 2,441 |
| 1930 | #50 | 4,783 |
| 1920 | #108 | 2,426 |
| 1910 | #96 | 926 |
| 1900 | #102 | 659 |
| 1890 | #101 | 401 |
| 1880 | #112 | 153 |
How popular is Theresa, counting every spelling?
Theresa is a spelling of Teresa, a name family that ranked #661 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,559 for Theresa on its own. Together these spellings went to 432 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teresa | 291 | #911 | 1,589 |
| Theresa | 136 | #1,559 | 703 |
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 Theresa?
136 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Theresa (0.04 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Theresa 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 62 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Theresa.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Theresa?
About 261,100 people born in the US named Theresa are alive today, with a median age of 63; half are between 54 and 70. That makes Theresa 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.
Theresa by state
How common Theresa was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Pennsylvania (2.5×), New York (1.6×), New Jersey (1.5×), Illinois (1.5×). In 30 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 Theresa: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Theresa, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Theresa
What does Theresa mean?
Theresa 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 Theresa?
Theresa was the 1559th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 136 babies. Its best year was 1956, when it ranked 32nd; the most babies were born in 1961 (11,960). Over the last ten years it has moved down 363 places. More babies were named Theresa in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Theresa a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Theresa in the US.
Where is Theresa most popular?
In 2021–2025, Theresa was most common in Alaska (0.58 per 1,000 girls), followed by Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.