Theresa
Theresa is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Harvester or late summer.
Origin and history
Theresa is a classic name derived from the Greek word theros, meaning summer or harvest. It has historically been a major name in Western Christianity, popularized by figures like Saint Teresa of Ávila. While heavily used throughout the 20th century in the U.S., its usage has become less frequent in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
404,613 babies in the United States have been named Theresa since 1880. It ranks #91 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1295.
States where it is most popular
- NY (14.6 %)
- PA (9.1 %)
- CA (7.2 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- OH (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 2,505 |
| 1890-1900 | 4,730 |
| 1900-1910 | 6,396 |
| 1910-1920 | 18,348 |
| 1920-1930 | 36,666 |
| 1930-1940 | 32,785 |
| 1940-1950 | 35,789 |
| 1950-1960 | 89,608 |
| 1960-1970 | 97,118 |
| 1970-1980 | 40,076 |
| 1980-1990 | 22,389 |
| 1990-2000 | 10,591 |
| 2000-2010 | 4,555 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,198 |
| 2020-2029 | 859 |
Famous people named Theresa
- Theresa May: Prime Minister, Politician
- Theresa Russell: Actress
- Theresa Caputo: Television Personality, Author
Nicknames
Terry, Terri, Tess, Tessa, Tracey
Fun facts
- The name spread rapidly across Europe due to Spanish and Austrian royalty, as well as prominent Christian saints.
- While spelled Theresa with an 'h' in English and German contexts, it is commonly spelled Teresa in Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.