Fun Facts About the Name Theresa
- A favorite of earlier generations: Theresa appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 8 separate runs, totaling 68 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1981 through 1981.
- More than 405 thousand babies named Theresa: U.S. records list 405,825 babies given the name Theresa from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,218 boys received the name Theresa - about 1 boy for every 332 girls.
What Does the Name Theresa Mean?
Theresa is the English spelling of Teresa, a name whose origin is not securely settled. The most frequently cited explanation traces it to Greek: either theros (θέρος), "summer," or the related verb therizō (θερίζω), "to reap, to harvest." Taken literally, that would give a sense like "summer" or "harvest." A second suggestion links the name by sound to Therasia, a small Aegean island near Thera, though no clear line of transmission has been shown. A third connects it to Greek thēra (θήρα), "hunt," and thus "huntress." Because none of these derivations is firmly documented, the meaning is best described as uncertain.
Theresa Name History & Origins
The name Teresa is recorded in Spain and Portugal by the late Middle Ages, before the well-known saints who share it. How it reached the Iberian Peninsula is not securely documented; a Greek route through Latin has been proposed, but an older regional origin has also been suggested, and the question remains open.
The name is closely associated with two Carmelite saints. Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515 - 1582), the Spanish mystic and reformer, wrote works such as the Interior Castle and founded reformed Carmelite houses. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 - 1897), a French nun known as the "Little Flower," was canonized in 1925. In the twentieth century, Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910 - 1997), born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, took the name on entering religious life.
The name also appears in European royal houses. Maria Theresa of Spain (1638 - 1683) became queen of France as the wife of Louis XIV, and Maria Theresa of Austria (1717 - 1780) ruled the Habsburg lands as empress. English uses both Teresa and Theresa, while French has Thérèse; these are forms of the same name rather than separate ones.
How Popular is the Name Theresa?
Theresa has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 68 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1981 to 1981.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,559 | 136 | 0.0085% |
| 2024 | #1,499 | 145 | 0.0090% |
| 2023 | #1,696 | 122 | 0.0076% |
| 2022 | #1,484 | 148 | 0.0090% |
| 2021 | #1,439 | 150 | 0.0091% |
| 2020 | #1,408 | 156 | 0.0097% |
| 2019 | #1,266 | 184 | 0.0110% |
| 2018 | #1,105 | 224 | 0.0132% |
| 2017 | #1,136 | 219 | 0.0127% |
| 2016 | #1,196 | 209 | 0.0118% |
| 2015 | #1,196 | 210 | 0.0118% |
| 2014 | #1,126 | 225 | 0.0126% |
| 2013 | #1,217 | 198 | 0.0113% |
| 2012 | #1,076 | 232 | 0.0132% |
| 2011 | #1,156 | 213 | 0.0121% |
| 2010 | #922 | 282 | 0.0159% |
| 2009 | #948 | 282 | 0.0154% |
| 2008 | #832 | 342 | 0.0181% |
| 2007 | #769 | 379 | 0.0197% |
| 2006 | #716 | 395 | 0.0208% |
| 2005 | #637 | 439 | 0.0238% |
| 2004 | #671 | 410 | 0.0223% |
| 2003 | #567 | 494 | 0.0270% |
| 2002 | #516 | 532 | 0.0296% |
| 2001 | #462 | 602 | 0.0334% |
| 2000 | #418 | 679 | 0.0374% |
| 1999 | #400 | 701 | 0.0395% |
| 1998 | #365 | 787 | 0.0445% |
| 1997 | #336 | 853 | 0.0490% |
| 1996 | #318 | 883 | 0.0504% |
| 1995 | #292 | 948 | 0.0539% |
| 1994 | #264 | 1,063 | 0.0595% |
| 1993 | #242 | 1,159 | 0.0641% |
| 1992 | #226 | 1,238 | 0.0671% |
| 1991 | #206 | 1,460 | 0.0779% |
| 1990 | #196 | 1,499 | 0.0790% |
| 1989 | #180 | 1,546 | 0.0839% |
| 1988 | #171 | 1,658 | 0.0931% |
| 1987 | #159 | 1,739 | 0.1000% |
| 1986 | #144 | 1,979 | 0.1154% |
| 1985 | #136 | 2,123 | 0.1234% |
| 1984 | #121 | 2,307 | 0.1370% |
| 1983 | #122 | 2,416 | 0.1446% |
| 1982 | #109 | 2,753 | 0.1626% |
| 1981 | #100 | 2,943 | 0.1764% |
| 1980 | #104 | 2,926 | 0.1762% |
| 1979 | #100 | 2,995 | 0.1866% |
| 1978 | #101 | 2,922 | 0.1907% |
| 1977 | #98 | 2,914 | 0.1901% |
| 1976 | #89 | 3,174 | 0.2166% |
| 1975 | #78 | 3,611 | 0.2477% |
| 1974 | #79 | 3,856 | 0.2628% |
| 1973 | #69 | 4,179 | 0.2866% |
| 1972 | #68 | 4,569 | 0.3003% |
| 1971 | #61 | 5,446 | 0.3273% |
| 1970 | #53 | 6,412 | 0.3668% |
| 1969 | #49 | 6,857 | 0.4065% |
| 1968 | #47 | 7,307 | 0.4454% |
| 1967 | #43 | 8,104 | 0.4908% |
| 1966 | #46 | 8,700 | 0.5141% |
| 1965 | #45 | 9,684 | 0.5486% |
| 1964 | #38 | 10,557 | 0.5571% |
| 1963 | #38 | 11,041 | 0.5728% |
| 1962 | #40 | 11,058 | 0.5623% |
| 1961 | #35 | 11,959 | 0.5925% |
| 1960 | #35 | 11,848 | 0.5860% |
| 1959 | #34 | 11,655 | 0.5760% |
| 1958 | #33 | 11,451 | 0.5692% |
| 1957 | #36 | 11,188 | 0.5471% |
| 1956 | #32 | 10,841 | 0.5400% |
| 1955 | #38 | 9,619 | 0.4920% |
| 1954 | #47 | 8,509 | 0.4382% |
| 1953 | #50 | 7,715 | 0.4101% |
| 1952 | #60 | 6,809 | 0.3672% |
| 1951 | #64 | 6,190 | 0.3437% |
| 1950 | #65 | 5,628 | 0.3285% |
| 1949 | #63 | 5,603 | 0.3275% |
| 1948 | #63 | 5,556 | 0.3272% |
| 1947 | #85 | 4,390 | 0.2476% |
| 1946 | #96 | 3,684 | 0.2345% |
| 1945 | #96 | 2,896 | 0.2216% |
| 1944 | #96 | 2,817 | 0.2122% |
| 1943 | #100 | 2,929 | 0.2099% |
| 1942 | #98 | 2,799 | 0.2072% |
| 1941 | #95 | 2,675 | 0.2214% |
| 1940 | #102 | 2,441 | 0.2135% |
| 1939 | #94 | 2,611 | 0.2381% |
| 1938 | #92 | 2,763 | 0.2504% |
| 1937 | #95 | 2,702 | 0.2539% |
| 1936 | #88 | 2,758 | 0.2651% |
| 1935 | #86 | 2,863 | 0.2730% |
| 1934 | #77 | 3,192 | 0.3057% |
| 1933 | #70 | 3,266 | 0.3240% |
| 1932 | #60 | 3,813 | 0.3573% |
| 1931 | #59 | 4,034 | 0.3789% |
| 1930 | #50 | 4,783 | 0.4248% |
| 1929 | #49 | 5,068 | 0.4539% |
| 1928 | #49 | 5,331 | 0.4622% |
| 1927 | #52 | 5,129 | 0.4301% |
| 1926 | #64 | 4,407 | 0.3718% |
| 1925 | #80 | 3,515 | 0.2887% |
| 1924 | #96 | 3,021 | 0.2419% |
| 1923 | #105 | 2,614 | 0.2167% |
| 1922 | #109 | 2,543 | 0.2117% |
| 1921 | #107 | 2,613 | 0.2119% |
| 1920 | #108 | 2,426 | 0.2025% |
| 1919 | #102 | 2,380 | 0.2106% |
| 1918 | #101 | 2,511 | 0.2169% |
| 1917 | #97 | 2,490 | 0.2303% |
| 1916 | #98 | 2,348 | 0.2248% |
| 1915 | #93 | 2,309 | 0.2347% |
| 1914 | #93 | 1,794 | 0.2356% |
| 1913 | #97 | 1,403 | 0.2246% |
| 1912 | #97 | 1,268 | 0.2272% |
| 1911 | #100 | 919 | 0.2197% |
| 1910 | #96 | 926 | 0.2335% |
| 1909 | #106 | 724 | 0.2085% |
| 1908 | #94 | 795 | 0.2378% |
| 1907 | #99 | 734 | 0.2304% |
| 1906 | #99 | 669 | 0.2266% |
| 1905 | #108 | 598 | 0.2051% |
| 1904 | #108 | 561 | 0.2037% |
| 1903 | #102 | 553 | 0.2111% |
| 1902 | #109 | 549 | 0.2079% |
| 1901 | #94 | 554 | 0.2315% |
| 1900 | #102 | 659 | 0.2198% |
| 1899 | #101 | 532 | 0.2283% |
| 1898 | #107 | 540 | 0.2087% |
| 1897 | #100 | 533 | 0.2276% |
| 1896 | #108 | 469 | 0.1971% |
| 1895 | #103 | 515 | 0.2204% |
| 1894 | #101 | 484 | 0.2171% |
| 1893 | #101 | 469 | 0.2203% |
| 1892 | #107 | 417 | 0.1964% |
| 1891 | #107 | 370 | 0.1995% |
| 1890 | #101 | 401 | 0.2106% |
| 1889 | #106 | 359 | 0.2013% |
| 1888 | #101 | 377 | 0.2111% |
| 1887 | #108 | 284 | 0.1945% |
| 1886 | #112 | 276 | 0.1910% |
| 1885 | #114 | 232 | 0.1744% |
| 1884 | #112 | 240 | 0.1860% |
| 1883 | #104 | 241 | 0.2146% |
| 1882 | #121 | 170 | 0.1576% |
| 1881 | #108 | 173 | 0.1881% |
| 1880 | #112 | 153 | 0.1681% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | #9,500 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1990 | #5,336 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #4,498 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #5,699 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #4,923 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #5,289 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #2,493 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1984 | #3,258 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #3,853 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #4,207 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #3,394 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #3,592 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #4,048 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #2,561 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1977 | #3,031 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1976 | #3,080 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #2,278 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1974 | #3,306 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1973 | #3,429 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #1,867 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1971 | #1,742 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1970 | #1,697 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1969 | #1,676 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1968 | #1,892 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1967 | #1,384 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1966 | #1,425 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1965 | #1,716 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1964 | #1,576 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1963 | #1,226 | 41 | 0.0020% |
| 1962 | #1,385 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1961 | #1,464 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 1960 | #1,335 | 36 | 0.0017% |
| 1959 | #1,464 | 30 | 0.0014% |
| 1958 | #1,555 | 26 | 0.0012% |
| 1957 | #1,628 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1956 | #1,716 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #1,787 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1954 | #2,201 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1953 | #2,278 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #2,367 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1951 | #2,359 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #3,293 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #2,446 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #2,312 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1947 | #2,349 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #1,880 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1945 | #2,975 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #3,083 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #2,717 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #3,994 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #2,477 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1940 | #1,796 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1939 | #2,598 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1938 | #1,737 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1937 | #2,468 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1936 | #2,440 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1935 | #1,827 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1934 | #1,547 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1933 | #1,896 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1932 | #1,503 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1931 | #1,585 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1930 | #1,813 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1929 | #1,922 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1928 | #1,955 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1927 | #1,638 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1926 | #2,176 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1925 | #2,422 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1924 | #2,807 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1923 | #2,431 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1922 | #3,506 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1921 | #4,276 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #4,237 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #3,478 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1915 | #3,363 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1911 | #1,972 | 5 | 0.0022% |
| 1910 | #1,298 | 8 | 0.0041% |
| 1906 | #1,399 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1900 | #1,486 | 5 | 0.0033% |
| 1895 | #1,224 | 5 | 0.0043% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
