Terence
Terence is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Uncertain; historically associated with the Roman Terentius family name, possibly meaning tender or smooth.
Origin and history
Terence is derived from the Roman family name Terentius, which has uncertain Etruscan or Latin roots. It gained historical prominence through the famous Roman playwright Terence and became popular in the English-speaking world, particularly in Ireland and Britain. In the United States, it enjoyed peak popularity in the mid-to-late 20th century.
Popularity in the United States
34,290 babies in the United States have been named Terence since 1880. It ranks #626 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1624.
States where it is most popular
- NY (16.5 %)
- CA (8.7 %)
- PA (6.4 %)
- IL (6.3 %)
- OH (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 23 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 14 |
| 1910-1920 | 169 |
| 1920-1930 | 413 |
| 1930-1940 | 866 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,806 |
| 1950-1960 | 6,340 |
| 1960-1970 | 7,803 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,762 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,062 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,180 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,491 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,058 |
| 2020-2029 | 303 |
Famous people named Terence
- Terence Crawford: Boxer, Athlete
- Terence Stamp: Actor
- Terence Howard: Actor, Musician
Nicknames
Terry, Tel
Fun facts
- The name was borne by Publius Terentius Afer, a Roman playwright who was originally brought to Rome as a slave from North Africa.
- In Ireland, Terence was widely adopted as an English equivalent for the native Gaelic name Turlough.