Teri Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TEH-ree /ˈtɛri/
Origin: English; Greek
Meaning: English: Earth; Greek: Late form of Teresa
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Teri is derived from the name Teresa, which has its roots in the Greek word "thera," meaning "harvester" or "to reap." The name Teresa was popularized in the Christian tradition by Saint Teresa of Ávila, a prominent Spanish mystic and reformer of the Carmelite order in the 16th century. The name Teresa made its way into various languages, including Latin as "Teresa," and later into Old French and English, where it was adapted into various forms, including Teri.
Historically, the name Teresa has been borne by several notable figures, including Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, a French Carmelite nun canonized in the early 20th century, who is often associated with themes of love and simplicity. The name gained further prominence through literary works and translations, such as the writings of Saint Teresa of Ávila, which were influential in the development of Christian spirituality during the Renaissance.
The name Teresa appeared in the English-speaking world primarily through the influence of these saints and their writings, particularly during the Reformation and the subsequent periods of religious upheaval. Culturally, the name Teri and its variants have come to symbolize qualities such as devotion, spirituality, and nurturing, reflecting the characteristics associated with the saints who bore the name.
The diminutive form Teri emerged as a more modern adaptation, often used affectionately. The enduring legacy of the name is evident in its continued association with strong female figures in religious and cultural contexts, contributing to its lasting significance across various cultures.
Famous people named Teri
In this section, you will find notable people named Teri. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Teri who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Teri who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Teri Hatcher is an actress best known for Desperate Housewives, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, and Tomorrow Never Dies.
Teri Polo is an actress best known for Meet the Parents, The Little Vampire, and The Fosters.
Teri Garr is an actress best known for Young Frankenstein, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Tootsie.
Teri Lynn is a model best known for her work in various fashion magazines and campaigns.
Fictional characters named Teri
The following list of fictional characters named Teri is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Teri Hatcher is a fictional character from the animated series DuckTales. She is a member of the Duck family and often assists in their adventures.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Teri, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Teri. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Teri was first seen in the United States in 1920.
Teri has ranked as high as #324 nationally, which occurred in 1960, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Teri has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Teri is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Teri was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Teri.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2024 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2022 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2017 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2015 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 2014 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2012 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 2011 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 2010 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 2009 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 2008 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 2007 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 2006 | 41 | 0 | 41 |
| 2005 | 38 | 0 | 38 |
| 2004 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 2003 | 46 | 0 | 46 |
| 2002 | 49 | 0 | 49 |
| 2001 | 73 | 0 | 73 |
| 2000 | 69 | 0 | 69 |
| 1999 | 81 | 0 | 81 |
| 1998 | 78 | 0 | 78 |
| 1997 | 85 | 0 | 85 |
| 1996 | 102 | 0 | 102 |
| 1995 | 103 | 0 | 103 |
| 1994 | 118 | 0 | 118 |
| 1993 | 136 | 0 | 136 |
| 1992 | 175 | 0 | 175 |
| 1991 | 170 | 0 | 170 |
| 1990 | 235 | 0 | 235 |
| 1989 | 234 | 0 | 234 |
| 1988 | 274 | 6 | 268 |
| 1987 | 326 | 0 | 326 |
| 1986 | 360 | 0 | 360 |
| 1985 | 377 | 5 | 372 |
| 1984 | 448 | 0 | 448 |
| 1983 | 434 | 0 | 434 |
| 1982 | 472 | 7 | 465 |
| 1981 | 551 | 7 | 544 |
| 1980 | 507 | 7 | 500 |
| 1979 | 482 | 0 | 482 |
| 1978 | 595 | 8 | 587 |
| 1977 | 630 | 0 | 630 |
| 1976 | 672 | 10 | 662 |
| 1975 | 730 | 7 | 723 |
| 1974 | 782 | 5 | 777 |
| 1973 | 794 | 0 | 794 |
| 1972 | 1,012 | 10 | 1,002 |
| 1971 | 1,115 | 5 | 1,110 |
| 1970 | 1,081 | 6 | 1,075 |
| 1969 | 1,153 | 0 | 1,153 |
| 1968 | 1,251 | 8 | 1,243 |
| 1967 | 1,309 | 6 | 1,303 |
| 1966 | 1,308 | 0 | 1,308 |
| 1965 | 1,460 | 0 | 1,460 |
| 1964 | 1,720 | 7 | 1,713 |
| 1963 | 1,944 | 7 | 1,937 |
| 1962 | 2,085 | 10 | 2,075 |
| 1961 | 2,253 | 11 | 2,242 |
| 1960 | 2,339 | 10 | 2,329 |
| 1959 | 2,167 | 11 | 2,156 |
| 1958 | 1,888 | 6 | 1,882 |
| 1957 | 1,728 | 9 | 1,719 |
| 1956 | 1,610 | 9 | 1,601 |
| 1955 | 1,389 | 17 | 1,372 |
| 1954 | 936 | 0 | 936 |
| 1953 | 735 | 8 | 727 |
| 1952 | 635 | 5 | 630 |
| 1951 | 441 | 0 | 441 |
| 1950 | 370 | 0 | 370 |
| 1949 | 313 | 0 | 313 |
| 1948 | 305 | 7 | 298 |
| 1947 | 280 | 0 | 280 |
| 1946 | 206 | 0 | 206 |
| 1945 | 239 | 0 | 239 |
| 1944 | 121 | 0 | 121 |
| 1943 | 62 | 0 | 62 |
| 1942 | 52 | 0 | 52 |
| 1941 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1940 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1939 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1938 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1937 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1935 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1933 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1932 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1931 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1927 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1926 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1920 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Top States for Teri (2008)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 | |
| TX | 5 |