Given name · also Gaelic
Terence
“learned”·“instigator”·“from an ancient Roman clan”
Terence is used as a given name. Interpretations include “learned” (Latin), “instigator” (Latin), and “from an ancient Roman clan” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original LatinTerentius
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “learned” (Latin), “instigator” (Latin), and “from an ancient Roman clan” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
In Cebuano usage, Terence developed from Terrence.
The story
The name’s historical associations include the Roman playwright Marcus Terentius Afer, and later various early Christian saints.
Terence through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 34,460
- 34,290 boys · 170 girls
- Most popular year
- 1964
- 1,024 babies
- 2025
- 47
- #2,753 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −36%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 47 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,753 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 36.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 1,014 in 1964. In 2025, California, Georgia, Maryland and 2 other areas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 26,742 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.
Terence’s family of names
In English usage, Terence has a diminutive in Terry. In Cebuano usage, Terence developed from the English form Terrence. Terence has a related form in Terri.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Terence has relatives in 18 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
Latinwhere Terence comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 21
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 19
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Terence
- Terry JonesWelsh actor, comedian, director, historian and writer (1942–2020)
- Terence TaoAustralian-American mathematicianborn 1975
- Terence StampBritish actor (1938–2025)
- Geezer ButlerEnglish bassist (born 1949)
- Terence McKennaAmerican ethnobotanist and mystic (1946–2000)
- Terence KongoloDutch-Swiss association football player (born 1994)
- Terence YoungBritish film director and screenwriter (1915–1994)
- Spike MilliganBritish actor (1918-2002)
- Terry VenablesEnglish football player and manager (1943–2023)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Terence, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Torrence
“from the little hills”
89% boys · 11% girls
Tyrone
“from Owen's land”
>99% boys
Richie
“a powerful ruler”
96% boys · 4% girls
Daron
“the great one” · “from a small rocky hill”
>99% boys
Duane
“a dark or swarthy man”
>99% boys
Laurence
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree” · “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel”
95% boys · 5% girls
Darren
“a great man” · “a gift from God”
>99% boys
Tito
“of the giants” · “a great defender”
>99% boys