Given name & surname
Teresa
“a harvester”
In German use, Teresa is a variant of Theresa. One Greek interpretation is “a harvester.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Teresa is a variant of Theresa. One Greek interpretation is “a harvester.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In German use, Teresa is a variant of Theresa. An origin associated with Theresa is Greek.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Finnish usage, Teresa developed from TERESIA.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Teresa through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 417,209
- 1,165 boys · 416,044 girls
- Most popular year
- 1961
- 18,949 babies
- 2025
- 291
- #911 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 291 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 911 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 16.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 18,909 in 1961. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (43). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 402,455 as a first name in 2020; 428 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Teresa’s family of names
In English usage, Teresa has a diminutive in Terry. Teresa shares a linguistic root with Theresa. In English usage, Teresa has a conventional equivalent in the Swedish form Therese.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Teresa has relatives in 35 languages.
48 related names in 35 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 21
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Tessadiminutive · Finnish, English
- Terrydiminutive · English
- Theresavariant · German, English
- Tessdiminutive · English
- Terridiminutive · English
- Traceydiminutive · English
- Teresitadiminutive · Tagalog, Spanish
- Tessiediminutive · English
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- Teridiminutive · English
- Terresalikely variant
- Tereniadiminutive · Polish
- Tereskadiminutive · Polish
- Terediminutive · Spanish
- Maritesdiminutive · Tagalog
- Tessydiminutive · English
- Theresiavariant · German, Swedish
- Terriediminutive · English
- Tisangdiminutive · ceb
- Tetepet form
- Thérèsevariant · French
- Tarejavariant · Portuguese
Spellings & scripts 8
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 34
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- ThereseSwedish, Norwegian
- TerezaCzech, Serbo-Croatian
- Terisaequivalent
- Taresacognate · roa-ole, Basque
- Teresequivalent
- Teresiaroot · Swedish, Latin
- Terawym
- Teresealso known as · Swedish, Basque
Show 26 moreShow fewer
- TheresGerman
- Theréseequivalent
- Teresėequivalent
- Teresíaequivalent
- ТерезаRussian, Serbo-Croatian
- ത്രേസ്യborrowing · Malayalam
- ΘηρεσίαGreek
- TerezieCzech
- Tareixaequivalent
- TerēzeLatvian
- KelekiaHawaiian
- KelekaHawaiian
- TreesDutch
- TeréziaHungarian, Slovak
- TerézHungarian
- TêrêsaVietnamese
- ТерезіяUkrainian
- TerezijaSlovene
- ТерезијаSerbian
- ТересаRussian
- TerēzijaLatvian
- TerēzaLatvian
- תרזהHebrew
- ტერეზაGeorgian
- ТэрэзаBelarusian
- Talazabe
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Teresa
- Teresa of ÁvilaRoman Catholic saint (1515-1582)
- Teresa TengTaiwanese ROC singer (1953-1995)
- Teresa WrightAmerican actress (1918–2005)
- Teresa PalmerAustralian actress, model, writer and producer (born 1986)
- Teresa Cristina of the Two SiciliesPrincess of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and Empress of the Empire of Brazil (1822-1889)
- Theresa, Countess of PortugalCountess-Queen of Portugal1080–1130
- Teresa RiberaSpanish politician (born 1969)
- Teresa CiepłyPolish sprinter and hurdler1937–2006
- Teresa ClaramuntCatalan Spanish anarcho-syndicalist, editor1862–1931
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Teresa, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Bernadette
“as strong and brave as a bear” · “one who has bearlike strength and courage”
>99% girls
Maura
“moor” · “dark, swarthy”
>99% girls
Lacreta
“a bringer of light; a successful woman”
>99% girls
Lucilla
“one who is illuminated”
>99% girls
Herlinda
>99% girls
Rockie
“one who is calm; restful”
16% boys · 84% girls
Tiernea
“one who is regal; lordly” · “lord of the manor”
—
Georgette
“farmer” · “one who works the earth”
>99% girls