Given name
Terah
“resembling a wild goat”
Terah is a variant of Terach. One Hebrew interpretation is “resembling a wild goat.”
Original Hebrewתרח
Meaning & origin
What it means
Terah is a variant of Terach. One Hebrew interpretation is “resembling a wild goat.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Terah is a variant of Terach. An origin associated with Terach is Hebrew. Terah is a variant of Terra. An origin associated with Terra is Latin.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1955. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Terah is a variant of Terra. The history of Terra gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Terra is associated with an earth goddess.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Terah appears in Genesis 11:24, Genesis 11:31, Luke 3:34.
- Genesis 11:24
- Genesis 11:31
- Luke 3:34
From biblical name research
Terah through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,416
- 43 boys · 1,373 girls
- Most popular year
- 1985
- 65 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2018. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 65 in 1985. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,341 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Terah’s family of names
Terah has a related form in Terra. Terah has a related form in Terach.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Terah, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Tarah
“hill”
>99% girls
Tarha
“hill”
>99% girls
Tarrah
“hill”
>99% girls
Deondra
“of the sacred spring”
23% boys · 77% girls
Tora
“thunder”
>99% girls
Deeandra
>99% girls
Mitra
“a heavenly messenger; an angel”
>99% girls
Taryn
“of the thunder” · “from the high, rocky hill”
7% boys · 93% girls