Terrell Unisex
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 | |
| CA | 9 | |
| GA | 9 | |
| IL | 9 | |
| OH | 8 | |
| TX | 8 | |
| SC | 6 | |
| MI | 6 | |
| NY | 5 | |
| WI | 5 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 120 |
| 2023 | 108 |
| 2022 | 160 |
| 2021 | 176 |
| 2020 | 173 |
| 2019 | 190 |
| 2018 | 215 |
| 2017 | 244 |
| 2016 | 229 |
| 2015 | 248 |
| 2014 | 276 |
| 2013 | 322 |
| 2012 | 350 |
| 2011 | 383 |
| 2010 | 378 |
| 2009 | 451 |
| 2008 | 480 |
| 2007 | 521 |
| 2006 | 500 |
| 2005 | 519 |
| 2004 | 512 |
| 2003 | 516 |
| 2002 | 503 |
| 2001 | 531 |
| 2000 | 608 |
| 1999 | 705 |
| 1998 | 862 |
| 1997 | 688 |
| 1996 | 669 |
| 1995 | 696 |
| 1994 | 734 |
| 1993 | 847 |
| 1992 | 849 |
| 1991 | 949 |
| 1990 | 925 |
| 1989 | 983 |
| 1988 | 918 |
| 1987 | 868 |
| 1986 | 857 |
| 1985 | 890 |
| 1984 | 801 |
| 1983 | 713 |
| 1982 | 682 |
| 1981 | 600 |
| 1980 | 604 |
| 1979 | 593 |
| 1978 | 502 |
| 1977 | 591 |
| 1976 | 502 |
| 1975 | 492 |
| 1974 | 339 |
| 1973 | 364 |
| 1972 | 352 |
| 1971 | 345 |
| 1970 | 354 |
| 1969 | 319 |
| 1968 | 297 |
| 1967 | 327 |
| 1966 | 247 |
| 1965 | 243 |
| 1964 | 220 |
| 1963 | 254 |
| 1962 | 226 |
| 1961 | 206 |
| 1960 | 220 |
| 1959 | 221 |
| 1958 | 263 |
| 1957 | 213 |
| 1956 | 201 |
| 1955 | 199 |
| 1954 | 195 |
| 1953 | 178 |
| 1952 | 177 |
| 1951 | 194 |
| 1950 | 203 |
| 1949 | 202 |
| 1948 | 212 |
| 1947 | 182 |
| 1946 | 187 |
| 1945 | 133 |
| 1944 | 131 |
| 1943 | 119 |
| 1942 | 102 |
| 1941 | 130 |
| 1940 | 118 |
| 1939 | 88 |
| 1938 | 72 |
| 1937 | 67 |
| 1936 | 65 |
| 1935 | 64 |
| 1934 | 57 |
| 1933 | 47 |
| 1932 | 48 |
| 1931 | 28 |
| 1930 | 36 |
| 1929 | 41 |
| 1928 | 42 |
| 1927 | 45 |
| 1926 | 36 |
| 1925 | 36 |
| 1924 | 46 |
| 1923 | 32 |
| 1922 | 42 |
| 1921 | 36 |
| 1920 | 47 |
| 1919 | 34 |
| 1918 | 35 |
| 1917 | 30 |
| 1916 | 35 |
| 1915 | 30 |
| 1914 | 25 |
| 1913 | 15 |
| 1912 | 27 |
| 1911 | 8 |
| 1910 | 5 |
| 1909 | 8 |
| 1908 | 7 |
| 1907 | 8 |
| 1903 | 8 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1901 | 5 |
| 1900 | 8 |
| 1890 | 5 |
| 1885 | 5 |