Tessa
Tessa is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Harvester or late summer.
Origin and history
Tessa originated as a short form of Theresa, a name of Greek origin traditionally associated with harvesting or summer. Originally used primarily as a nickname, it became established as an independent given name in the 20th century. In the United States, Tessa is a moderately popular and familiar choice for girls.
Popularity in the United States
55,926 babies in the United States have been named Tessa since 1880. It ranks #545 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #304.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9.8 %)
- TX (6.4 %)
- OH (5.1 %)
- PA (5.1 %)
- NY (4.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 31 |
| 1900-1910 | 10 |
| 1910-1920 | 23 |
| 1920-1930 | 37 |
| 1930-1940 | 11 |
| 1940-1950 | 183 |
| 1950-1960 | 165 |
| 1960-1970 | 867 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,969 |
| 1980-1990 | 6,325 |
| 1990-2000 | 12,041 |
| 2000-2010 | 13,177 |
| 2010-2019 | 13,883 |
| 2020-2029 | 6,204 |
Famous people named Tessa
- Tessa Thompson: Actress, Producer
- Tessa Virtue: Figure Skater, Athlete
Nicknames
Tess
Fun facts
- Tessa developed as a affectionate diminutive of Theresa before gaining widespread popularity as an independent legal name.
- The name gained literary exposure through Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles, which uses a closely related short form.