Given name & surname · also French
Terrell
“one who is stubborn”·“a powerful man”
Terrell is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who is stubborn” and “a powerful man”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who is stubborn” and “a powerful man”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with French and German naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1885. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Terrell through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 38,087
- 36,502 boys · 1,585 girls
- Most popular year
- 1989
- 1,004 babies
- 2025
- 113
- #1,538 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −35%
- Cooling
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 100% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 113 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,538 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 35.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 983 in 1989. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (15). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 26,446 as a first name in 2020; 33,860 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.
Terrell’s family of names
Terrell has a related form in Tyrell. Terrell has a related form in Terrill. Terrell has a related form in Tyrel.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Terrell
- Terrell OwensAmerican football player (born 1973)
- Terrell BrandonAmerican basketball player (born 1970)
- Terrel HarrisAmerican basketball player (born 1987)
- Terrell SuggsAmerican football player (born 1982)
- Terrell Davisformer American football running backborn 1972
- T. J. WardAmerican football player (born 1986)
- Terrell LydayAmerican basketball player (born 1979)
- Terrell TilfordAmerican actor (b. 1969)
- Terrell GaushaAmerican boxerborn 1987
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Terrell, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Efrain
“one who is tertile; productive” · “fruitful”
>99% boys
Cortez
“a courteous man”
>99% boys
Pierre
“as solid and strong as a rock”
>99% boys
Marquis
“a lord of the borderlands; a nobleman”
>99% boys
Lamar
“from the renowned land” · “of the sea”
86% boys · 14% girls
Jacques
“he who supplants” · “heel grabber”
>99% boys
Deangelo
“a messenger from God”
>99% boys
Antoine
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
>99% boys