Terrance Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TER-uhns //ˈtɛr.əns//
Origin: Latin; Irish
Meaning: Latin: to pull; Irish: rocky land
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Terrance is derived from the Latin name "Terentius," which is believed to be rooted in the word "terra," meaning "earth" or "land." The name Terentius was borne by a prominent Roman family, and it became more widely recognized through the works of the Roman playwright Terence (Publius Terentius Afer), who lived in the 2nd century BCE. His comedies were influential in the development of Roman literature and later European drama, contributing to the name's enduring legacy.
As the name transitioned into various languages, it evolved into forms such as "Terence" in English and "Terrance" as an alternative spelling. The name was popularized in the English-speaking world during the Middle Ages, particularly through the influence of saints and scholars.
One notable figure is Saint Terence, a Christian martyr whose feast day is celebrated in some traditions, further embedding the name within ecclesiastical contexts. The name Terrance has been associated with qualities such as strength and stability, resonating with its etymological roots connected to the earth.
This connection to the land has made it a symbol of reliability and groundedness in various cultural narratives. Additionally, diminutive forms like "Terry" have emerged, reflecting a more familiar and affectionate usage of the name throughout history.
Overall, Terrance carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in ancient Roman heritage and sustained through literary and religious traditions.
Famous people named Terrance
In this section, you will find notable people named Terrance. 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 Terrance who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Terrance 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.
Terrance Howard is an actor best known for Hustle & Flow, Iron Man, and Empire.
Terrance Dicks is a writer best known for his work on Doctor Who and the Target novelizations.
Fictional characters named Terrance
The following list of fictional characters named Terrance 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.
Terrance is a fictional character from the animated television series South Park. He is one half of the duo Terrance and Phillip, known for their crude humor and comedic antics.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Terrance, 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 Terrance. 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 Terrance was first seen in the United States in 1895.
Terrance has ranked as high as #367 nationally, which occurred in 1988, and has been most popular in Illinois, New York, Michigan, California, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Terrance has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Terrance 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 Terrance was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Terrance (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 14 | |
| FL | 13 | |
| GA | 12 | |
| NY | 10 | |
| IL | 10 | |
| OH | 9 | |
| TN | 9 | |
| MI | 8 | |
| CA | 8 | |
| NC | 7 | |
| IN | 6 |
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 Terrance.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 151 |
| 2023 | 155 |
| 2022 | 180 |
| 2021 | 203 |
| 2020 | 225 |
| 2019 | 230 |
| 2018 | 277 |
| 2017 | 307 |
| 2016 | 332 |
| 2015 | 377 |
| 2014 | 365 |
| 2013 | 409 |
| 2012 | 435 |
| 2011 | 428 |
| 2010 | 446 |
| 2009 | 562 |
| 2008 | 512 |
| 2007 | 569 |
| 2006 | 583 |
| 2005 | 562 |
| 2004 | 535 |
| 2003 | 552 |
| 2002 | 563 |
| 2001 | 580 |
| 2000 | 628 |
| 1999 | 688 |
| 1998 | 680 |
| 1997 | 713 |
| 1996 | 731 |
| 1995 | 840 |
| 1994 | 992 |
| 1993 | 1,058 |
| 1992 | 1,275 |
| 1991 | 1,347 |
| 1990 | 1,223 |
| 1989 | 1,361 |
| 1988 | 1,424 |
| 1987 | 1,133 |
| 1986 | 1,134 |
| 1985 | 1,188 |
| 1984 | 1,214 |
| 1983 | 1,194 |
| 1982 | 1,267 |
| 1981 | 1,276 |
| 1980 | 1,379 |
| 1979 | 1,346 |
| 1978 | 1,283 |
| 1977 | 1,237 |
| 1976 | 1,199 |
| 1975 | 1,179 |
| 1974 | 1,067 |
| 1973 | 1,187 |
| 1972 | 1,109 |
| 1971 | 1,100 |
| 1970 | 1,178 |
| 1969 | 982 |
| 1968 | 1,023 |
| 1967 | 989 |
| 1966 | 962 |
| 1965 | 946 |
| 1964 | 1,120 |
| 1963 | 809 |
| 1962 | 745 |
| 1961 | 757 |
| 1960 | 725 |
| 1959 | 827 |
| 1958 | 917 |
| 1957 | 1,039 |
| 1956 | 1,056 |
| 1955 | 1,142 |
| 1954 | 1,120 |
| 1953 | 965 |
| 1952 | 902 |
| 1951 | 913 |
| 1950 | 953 |
| 1949 | 829 |
| 1948 | 866 |
| 1947 | 791 |
| 1946 | 630 |
| 1945 | 459 |
| 1944 | 472 |
| 1943 | 462 |
| 1942 | 394 |
| 1941 | 300 |
| 1940 | 254 |
| 1939 | 254 |
| 1938 | 186 |
| 1937 | 147 |
| 1936 | 136 |
| 1935 | 102 |
| 1934 | 95 |
| 1933 | 56 |
| 1932 | 57 |
| 1931 | 42 |
| 1930 | 45 |
| 1929 | 34 |
| 1928 | 33 |
| 1927 | 45 |
| 1926 | 30 |
| 1925 | 28 |
| 1924 | 19 |
| 1923 | 23 |
| 1922 | 24 |
| 1921 | 30 |
| 1920 | 23 |
| 1919 | 27 |
| 1918 | 15 |
| 1917 | 18 |
| 1916 | 18 |
| 1915 | 12 |
| 1914 | 7 |
| 1913 | 8 |
| 1912 | 11 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1895 | 5 |