Given name & surname
Terri
“a harvester”·“learned”·“instigator”
In English use, Terri is an affectionate form of Theresa. One Greek interpretation is “a harvester.” Terri is a variant of Terence. Interpretations include “learned” (Latin), “instigator” (Latin), and “from an ancient Roman clan” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Terri is an affectionate form of Theresa. One Greek interpretation is “a harvester.” Terri is a variant of Terence. Interpretations include “learned” (Latin), “instigator” (Latin), and “from an ancient Roman clan” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Terri is an affectionate form of Theresa. An origin associated with Theresa is Greek. Terri is a variant of Terence. A possible origin is Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Terri is a diminutive of Teresa.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1922. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Terri is a variant of Terence. The history of Terence gives this family its wider story. Terence’s historical associations include the Roman playwright Marcus Terentius Afer, and later various early Christian saints.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Terri through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 147,027
- 914 boys · 146,113 girls
- Most popular year
- 1959
- 8,810 babies
- 2025
- 19
- #6,303 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −35%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 19 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,303 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 35.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 8,783 in 1959. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 121,174 as a first name in 2020; 186 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.
Terri’s family of names
In English usage, Terri is a diminutive of Teresa. Terri has a related form in Terence. Terri is an affectionate form of Theresa.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Terri
- Tovah FeldshuhAmerican actressborn 1952
- Terri SchiavoAmerican woman at the center of the Terri Schiavo case (1963–2005)
- Terri SewellAmerican politician (born 1965)
- Terri Lyne CarringtonAmerican drummer (born 1965)
- Terri IrwinAmerican-Australian zoologist, conservationist and television hostborn 1964
- Terri ClarkCanadian country musicianborn 1968
- Terri RunnelsAmerican professional wrestler, professional wrestling manager, television host, and modelborn 1966
- Terri HawkesCanadian actressborn 1957
- Terri TatchellCanadian screenwriter (born 1978)
Characters named Terri: Terri Schuester (the television series Glee).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Terri, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Tammy
Tammy is connected with Tamara and Tamsin in English naming traditions.
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