Teresa
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Teresa is a Greek name meaning “to harvest”. It is a popular name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.97% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Teresa
Teresa is a name of Ancient Greek origin, typically associated with the word therizein, meaning to harvest or to reap. The name became prominent in Spanish and Italian contexts through the influence of Saint Teresa of Avila. While the etymology is debated, it is frequently linked to the island of Therasia in the Aegean Sea. Its legacy is largely defined by the religious figures who bore it throughout the Middle Ages.
Meaning Comments
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Gender Usage of the Name Teresa
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Teresa is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.97% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Teresa
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Teresa is listed under Popular Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Common | 1 in every 6.1K births |
| United Kingdom | Popular | 1 in every 2.5K births |
| Canada | Popular | 1 in every 11K births |
| Australia | Popular | 1 in every 46K births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Teresa ranked #1,362 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It fell from #664 in 2024 — a drop of 698 places. Teresa shows meaningful recent movement in rank, though it remains uncommon overall.
Historically, its best recorded position was #35 in 1968. Its lowest recorded position was #1,362 in 2025. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name fell -587 places (from #775 to #1,362).
Name StyleMethodology
Teresa is classified as Timeless Girl Names because it appears across 100% of recorded years, averages 3,847 births per year over its full timeline, and still averages 776 births per year recently.Characteristics of the Name Teresa
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 3 syllables — Three-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 6 letters — Medium-Length Girl Names
- Starts with
- T — Girl Names Starting with T
- Ends with
- a — Girl Names Ending in “a”
Name AestheticMethodology
Teresa follows a three-syllable structure with a medial primary stress, offering a rhythmic, lyrical quality. Its historical weight is carried by Saint Teresa of Ávila and Mother Teresa, figures of significant moral and cultural gravity. The name maintains an Elegant & Timeless aesthetic through this long-standing connection to humanitarian and religious history.
Middle Names For Teresa
Middle names used with TeresaMethodology
Teresa is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Teresa Ann · Teresa Lynn · Teresa Marie · Teresa Diane · Teresa GailView all 2,897 girl middle names.
- Total 3,983 middle names used with Teresa
- 204 boy middle names used with Teresa
- 764 unisex middle names used with Teresa
Middle name suggestions for TeresaMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Teresa is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “m”.
Examples: Teresa Moore · Teresa Mills · Teresa Marsh · Teresa Marks · Teresa Moose. View all 101 suggested middle names.
Associations of the Name Teresa
Royal UsageMethodology
Featured among Royal Girl Names, Teresa has been used by 3 members of European royal families, including:
- Margaret Teresa (1651–1673)
- Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (born 1956) — Grand Duchess
Names Similar to Teresa
Sound Like Teresa Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Doris · Tracy · Tracey · View all 72 names
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Theresa · Tiffany · Tammy · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Teresa Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Patricia · Linda · Barbara · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Patricia · Rebecca · Amanda · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Teresa”
Dictionary Meaning of "Teresa"Methodology
A female given name from Ancient Greek, the Spanish and Italian form of Theresa
Examples
- My friends call me Terry. My husband always used my full name, Teresa. He said it made him feel like he was married to a foreign woman.
- Cynthia and Melinda, reduced to Cindy and Mindy, as Carella had dreaded would happen from the moment she named them. Her older daughter had fared better. Tess, modern and sleek for Teresa, which conjured up cobblestoned streets in a mountain village in Potenza.
A municipality of Rizal, Philippines
Alternative Forms
Translations
The name Teresa has 41 translations, for example: in Spanish it is rendered as female given name, etc..
More Info
How to Spell Teresa in ASL
- T
- e
- r
- e
- s
- a
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