Ways to "Tess"

Esther

Persian

"star"

Esther was derived from the Old Persian word stāra , meaning "star." In the Old Testament, Esther, originally named Hadassah, was the captured Jewish wife of the King of Persia who risked her life to…

Tessa

Diminutive of Theresa

"to reap, to gather"

Tessa is one of those golden names that's been popular but not TOO popular for several decades now. Tessa has ranked in the Top 500 in the US since 1981 but has risen only once above Number 200.…

Trista

Feminine variation of Tristan

"noise or sorrowful"

This female form of Tristan was featured on the reality-television show The Bachelorette, and has been rocketing up the charts as a new millennium Trisha.

Tressa

Short form of Theresa, English, Greek, or Cornish

"to harvest; third"

While Tessa is now preferred, this slightly sharper diminutive of Theresa was the more familiar option in the early 20th-century. It enjoyed a brief return to the US charts in the 60s and 70s but is…

Justice

English word name

"the quality of being just, impartial, or fair"

Justice is a fashionable word name, used for both girls and boys. Justice has the distinction of being a virtue name without the religious implications of Faith or Grace. It still feels more male…

Hester

Medieval variation of Esther, Persian

"star"

The disgraced heroine of The Scarlet Letter 's name, after long neglect, just might have a chance at revival, following in the wake of sister-name Esther. We've characterized her elsewhere as an…

Tinsley

English surname

"Tynni's meadow"

New York socialite and reality TV star Tinsley Mortimer introduced this name to the mainstream. Following her Gossip Girl cameo in 2008 and the airing of her own show, High Society in 2010, this once…

Theresa

English form of the Spanish Teresa

"to harvest"

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…

Therese

German and Scandinavian variation of Theresa

"to reap, gather, harvest"

A form of Theresa with a touch of European flair along with its saintly connotations, Therese is particularly familiar in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and the UK. While it has declined in use in…

Terese

Terese is a feminine given name that serves as a variation of Teresa or Theresa. These names derive from the Greek 'therizein' meaning 'to harvest,' or possibly 'therizo' meaning 'summer harvest.'…

Thomasina

English, feminine variation of Thomas, Aramaic

"twin"

Though rarely used now that many parents would rather appropriate men's names than sweeten them with feminine endings, Thomasina does have some vintage appeal. Thomasina Coverly plays a large part in…

Tennessee

Native American, Cherokee, place-name

"bend in the river; meeting place"

Young rocker Tennessee Thomas has brought this former one-person name over to the girls' side -- though the census roles of North Carolina in 1850 included a female named Tennessee and called Tincy.…

Tesla

Slavic

"from Thessaly"

Tesla, the surname of Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla that has more recently been used as the brand name for an electric car, is gaining some use as a first name for girls . Exactly 100 girls were…

Teskia

Teskia is an uncommon feminine name with unclear origins, possibly a creative modern invention or a variation of similar-sounding names across different cultures. It may relate to Tessa or Teska,…

Clematis

Flower name, from Greek

"vine branch"

Flower name that sounds a bit too much like a disease.