Theresa
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Theresa
The popular appeal of the strong, intelligent Saint Teresa of Avila, combined with the selfless compassion of the more recent Mother Teresa, have fused to give this second-tier classic a somewhat noble, religious image. Although the origins of the name are uncertain, it has been prevalent particularly in forms Theresa, Teresa, and Therese throughout Europe for centuries.
Mother Teresa was born Anjeze/Agnese Gonxhe; when taking her vows, she chose to be named after Thérèse de Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries, but because another nun in the convent had already chosen that name, she opted for the Spanish spelling Teresa.
A Top 100 name until the 1960s, reaching Number 32 in 1956, Theresa fell off the list completely in 2011, while the sleeker Teresa still holds at Number 719; it was as high as Number 18 from 1961 to 1963.
Currently, a leading character on The Mentalist is Teresa Lisbon.
Short forms Tess,Tessa, Tressa, or Tea are more popular now than the old Terry or Tracy. An interesting variation is Tereza, as in Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Mia Farrow's sister Theresa is known as Tisa.
Theresa is also given to boys.
Pronounced tuh-REE-suh.
As of October 2026, Theresa ranked #1559 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #32 in 1956, Nameberry popularity #604.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,126 | 225 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #1,196 | 210 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #1,196 | 209 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #1,136 | 219 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #1,105 | 224 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #1,266 | 184 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #1,408 | 156 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #1,439 | 150 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #1,484 | 148 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #1,696 | 122 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #1,499 | 145 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #1,559 | 136 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Theresa for girls
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Theresa on lists
Famous Theresas
- Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia ChristinaGirl
Queen of Germany; Holy Roman Empress
- Theresa Mary Braiser MayGirl
current British Prime Minister
- Theresa WeldGirl
American Olympic figure skater
- Theresa Shank GrentzGirl
American basketball coach
- Theresa CaputoGirl
American psychic and TV personality of "Long Island Medium"
- Thérésa CabarrusGirl
Madame Tallien, leading social figure during the French Revolution
- Theresa Hak Kyung ChaGirl
American novelist
- Theresa SaldanaGirl
American actress
- Theresa RandleGirl
American actress
- Theresa ZabellGirl
Spanish Olympic sailor
- Theresa Magdalena "Tisa" FarrowGirl
sister of American actress Mia Farrow
- Theresa Anne VilliersGirl
British MP
- Theresa Lynn RussellGirl
American actress
- Theresa RebeckGirl
American playwright and novelist
- Theresa FuGirl
Hong Kong pop singer
- Theresa (born Therese Charlotte Marianne Auguste)Girl
Princess of Bavaria, German ethnologist
- Theresa Maria Josepha MarthaGirl
Princess of Liechtenstein; Princess of Bavaria
- Theresa Monika Valerie Elisabeth Ludovika Walburga AnnaGirl
Princess of Bavaria, Archduchess of Austria
- Theresa Owana Kaʻohelelani LaʻanuiGirl
Princess of Hawai'i
- Theresa Anna Elisabeth (b. 1992)Girl
Princess of Leiningen; daughter of Prince Karl Emich
Theresa in pop culture
- Theresa "Terri" McGreggorGirl
character on TV's "Degrassi: The Next Generation"
- Theresa DiazGirl
character on TV's "The O.C."
- (Jeannie) Theresa DonovanGirl
character on American soap "Days of our Lives"
- Theresa TatumGirl
character in short film "Some Folks Call it a Sling Blade"
- Theresa "Tessa" YoungGirl
main character in "After" by Anna Todd
- Theresa Mariah Magdalene McQueenGirl
character on British soap "Hollyoaks"
- Theresa "Terry" Cherry PerryGirl
character on TV's "Lab Rats"
- Theresa CullenGirl
character in TV's "Westworld"
- Theresa "Tessa" GrayGirl
main character in Cassandra Clare's "The Infernal Devices" book series.
- Theresa "Tree" GelbmanGirl
main character in "Happy Death Day" and "Happy Death Day 2 U"