Terrell Unisex

Popularity: #804 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TER-uhl //ˈtɛr.əl//

Origin: English; French

Meaning: English: to pull; French: to tear

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Terrell has its roots in the Old French name "Tirel," which is derived from the Latin word "terra," meaning "earth" or "land." The name evolved through various forms, including the Middle English "Tirelle," before being anglicized to Terrell. This linguistic journey reflects the influence of Norman culture on the English language following the Norman Conquest of 1066, which introduced a multitude of French names into English vernacular.

Historically, the name Terrell can be traced back to the medieval period, where it was used as a surname before becoming a given name. The surname Tirel was recorded in England as early as the 12th century, and it was associated with landowners and nobility, suggesting a connection to the earth and land ownership.

The name's association with the earth may have contributed to its symbolic significance, representing stability and grounding. Culturally, Terrell has been linked to various traditions and has appeared in literature and historical texts.

While not as prominent as some other names, it has maintained a presence in English-speaking cultures. The name can also be found in diminutive forms such as Terry, which has been used as a nickname or affectionate form.

The enduring nature of Terrell can be attributed to its solid etymological roots and the cultural values associated with land and stability, which resonate across generations.

Famous people named Terrell

In this section, you will find notable people named Terrell. 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 Terrell who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Terrell 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.

Terrell Owens is a former professional American football wide receiver best known for his time with the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Terrell, 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 Terrell. 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 Terrell was first seen in the United States in 1885.

Terrell has ranked as high as #499 nationally, which occurred in 1989, and has been most popular in Illinois, Georgia, New York, Florida, and California.

In the past 5 years the name Terrell has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Terrell 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 Terrell was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Terrell (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
FL 12
16%
CA 9
12%
GA 9
12%
IL 9
12%
OH 8
10%
TX 8
10%
SC 6
8%
MI 6
8%
NY 5
6%
WI 5
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 Terrell.

YearBirths
2024120
2023108
2022160
2021176
2020173
2019190
2018215
2017244
2016229
2015248
2014276
2013322
2012350
2011383
2010378
2009451
2008480
2007521
2006500
2005519
2004512
2003516
2002503
2001531
2000608
1999705
1998862
1997688
1996669
1995696
1994734
1993847
1992849
1991949
1990925
1989983
1988918
1987868
1986857
1985890
1984801
1983713
1982682
1981600
1980604
1979593
1978502
1977591
1976502
1975492
1974339
1973364
1972352
1971345
1970354
1969319
1968297
1967327
1966247
1965243
1964220
1963254
1962226
1961206
1960220
1959221
1958263
1957213
1956201
1955199
1954195
1953178
1952177
1951194
1950203
1949202
1948212
1947182
1946187
1945133
1944131
1943119
1942102
1941130
1940118
193988
193872
193767
193665
193564
193457
193347
193248
193128
193036
192941
192842
192745
192636
192536
192446
192332
192242
192136
192047
191934
191835
191730
191635
191530
191425
191315
191227
19118
19105
19098
19087
19078
19038
19025
19015
19008
18905
18855