Tess
Tess Origin and Meaning
Cosy and warm but with plenty of substance and strength, Tess is a literary diminutive that works perfectly well as a stand-alone name. Stylish in the Netherlands, it currently sits outside the Top 1000 in the US, where Tessa and Teresa are currently preferred.
Perhaps the most iconic and memorable Tess is the heroine of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, the moral center of the tragic novel. Typically derived from Theresa, the name is associated with harvest time, though it may also be used as a nickname sunny Welsh Tesni, aristocratic Contessa, and rare Otessa.
The name ranked in the US and UK charts back in the 2000s and 2010s, but has since been displaced by longer form Tessa, but we could easily see it returning to the charts in coming years. Chosen by fashion writer Plum Sykes in 2010 and by actor Luke Macfarlane in 2023, other notable bearers include writer Tess Gerritsen and presenter Tess Daly.
International alternatives include Swedish Tessan and Dutch Tessel.
- Tess Rank in US Top 1000
- Tess Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
- Names Similar to Tess
- Famous People Named Tess
- The name Tess in Pop Culture
- The name Tess in Nameberry Blog Posts
- The name Tess in Nameberry Forums
Tess Rank in US Top 1000
Tess Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
Popularity of the name Tess
- 269Nameberry2025
- 784Unique2024
- 999England2017
- 11Netherlands2024
20 Names Similar to Tess
- Libby
- Heidi
- Gwen
- Margo
- Nellie
- Della
- Maggie
- Darcy
- Lucie
- Laurel
- Bridget
- Josie
- Liv
- Maxine
- Simone
- Marnie
- Nina
- Lucille
- Meredith
- Fiona
Famous People Named Tess
- Tessie Jean "Tess" HarperAmerican actress
- Helen Elizabeth "Tess" DalyEnglish model and TV presenter
- Tess Amber TaylorAmerican model and reality TV personality ("Pretty Wild")
- Tess Holliday (born Ryann Maegen Hoven)American plus size model
- Tess Uriza HoltheFilipina American novelist
- Tess SlesingerAmerican novelist and screenwriter
- Tess GaertheDutch singer
- Tess Walkeryoungest daughter of Elle Walker, co,founder of YouTube channel "whatsupmoms"
- Tess GerritsenAmerican novelist
- Tess MattissonSwedish pop singer
- Tess WileyAmerican singer,songwriter
- Therese "Tess" GardellaAmerican stage actress
- Tess GallagherAmerican author; wife of author Raymond Carver
- Tess Mallos (born Anastasia Calopades)Australian cookbook author and chef
The name Tess in Pop Culture
- Tess Durbeyfieldmain character in Thomas Hardy's "Tess of the D'Urbervilles"
- Tess Trueheartcharacter in Dick Tracy comics
- Tessa "Tess" Graycharacter in Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices trilogy
- Tess Quincharacter in Kresley Cole's "The Arcana Chronicles"
- Tess McGillmain character in film "Working Girl"
- Teresa "Tess" Bellcharacter on Australian soap "Neighbours"
- Tess Carlislecharacter in 1994 film "Guarding Tess"
- Tess Carrollcharacter in film and book "Charlie St. Cloud"
- Tess Colemancharacter in film "Freaky Friday"
- Tess Finnegancharacter in film "Fool's Gold"
- Tess Hardingcharacter in film "Woman of the Year"
- Tess Oceancharacter in the Ocean's Eleven film series
- Tesscharacter in 2010 film "Burlesque"
- Tess Tylercharacter in film "Camp Rock"
- Tess Hardingcharacter on TV's "Roswell"
- Tesscharacter in Lily Tomlin's sketches, sometimes called "Trudy"
- Tesscharacter in Marie Lu's "Legend"
- Tesscharacter on TV's "Ravenswood"
- Tess Batemancharacter on British TV series "Casualty"
- Tess Skinnermain character in 1922 silent film "Tess of the Storm Country"
- Tess Struancharacter in "Tai,Pan" and "Gai,Jin" by James Clavell
- Tess Doernercharacter on TV's "The 4400"
- Tesscharacter in 'Fallen In Love' by Lauren Kate
- Tess Fostermain character in Canadian TV series "Life With Boys"
- Tess Nicholscharacter in 2008 film "27 Dresses"
- Tess Harrischaracter on British soap "Emmerdale"
- Tess Adamsoncharacter on New Zealand soap "Shortland Street"
- Tess Fontanacharacter on TV's "Eureka"
- Tess Silverman McLeodcharacter on Australian series "McLeod's Daughters"
- Tess Merceralso known as Lutessa Lena Luthor, character in DC Universe
- Tess Ramseycharacter on American soap opera Port Charles
- Tess Smithan alternate personality of Jessica Buchanan on American soap "One Life to Live"
- Tesscharacter on TV's "Touched by an Angel"
- Tess Morgancharacter on TV's "The Flash"
- Tesscharacter in the Jak and Daxter video game series
- Tesscharacter in the video game The Last of Us
- Tess Wintorycharacter in the video game Test Drive Unlimited 2
- Tess Churchmousemouse character in the Redwall series
- Tess Clarkcharacter in Chuck Palahniuk's Haunted
- Tess Pearsoncharacter on TV's "This Is Us"
- Tesscharacter in the Johnny the Homicidal Maniac comic book series
- Therese "Tess" Dombeghmain character of Rachel Hartman's "Tess of the Road"
- Tess Tylermain character in movie "Billboard Dad"
The name Tess in Nameberry Blog Posts
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