Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Teresa
GirlSpanish, Greek· “uncertain; possibly harvester”
- Meaning
- uncertain; possibly harvester (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Spanish, Greek
- Pronunciation
- tuh-REE-suh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #911
- US babies 2025
- 291
- Best rank
- #18 (1961)
- Peak year
- 1961
Meaning and origin of Teresa
Teresa is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly harvester”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Spanish and Greek roots.
Teresa is the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian form of Theresa, a name of uncertain origin. It is sometimes linked to the Greek therizein, "to harvest", or to the Greek island of Therasia, but neither explanation is certain. Saint Teresa of Ávila, the sixteenth-century Spanish mystic and reformer of the Carmelite order, made it widely popular, and Saint Teresa of Calcutta, known as Mother Teresa, gave it renewed fame through her work among the poor. The empress Maria Theresa of Austria bore a related form. Teresa sounds warm and classic. Tess, Terri and Tessa are nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Theresa.
Popularity over time
Teresa has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #18 in 1961, the same year it reached its highest count of 18,909 babies. In 2025, 291 babies were named Teresa, and it ranked #911 nationally. That is 32% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #243 in 1920, #81 in 1950, #94 in 1980, #344 in 2000, #694 in 2010, and #911 in 2025. Of the 416,044 US girls named Teresa since records began, 36% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 114,283 babies. Since 2010, 6,170 more have been named Teresa.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Denise, Kim, Laurie, Sherry, and Sheila.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Teresa ranked highest in Illinois, Iowa, and Massachusetts.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | #511 | 20 |
| Iowa | #673 | 5 |
| Massachusetts | #678 | 8 |
| Texas | #712 | 43 |
| Florida | #766 | 22 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Teresa is usually pronounced tuh-REE-suh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with T and ends in “-sa”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Theresa.
Middle names for Teresa
A few middle names that flow with Teresa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Teresa
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Lists that include Teresa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Teresa mean?
Teresa is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly harvester”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Spanish and Greek roots.
What is the origin of the name Teresa?
Teresa has Spanish and Greek roots. Teresa is the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian form of Theresa, a name of uncertain origin.
Is Teresa a popular name?
Yes. Teresa ranked #911 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Teresa a boy or girl name?
Teresa is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Teresa?
Teresa is usually pronounced tuh-REE-suh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings