Is Terrence a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Terrence is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Terrence?

It’s currently ranked #808 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Terrence?

TER-ence · IPA: //ˈtɛr.əns//

Terrence Boy

Popularity: #808 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationTER-ence / /ˈtɛr.əns/

Latin; Irish

Meaning

Latin: to pull; Irish: tender

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Terrence is derived from the Latin name Terentius, which was a Roman family name. It became popular in the English-speaking world through the influence of the 17th-century playwright Terence. In Ireland, the name has been associated with the Gaelic name Tadhg, which shares similar roots. Terrence has been used in various forms across cultures, reflecting its adaptability.

Trend Summary

Terrence has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, peaking in the mid-20th century.

Variants

Terence
Terry

International Variants

Terencio (Spanish)
Terenzio (Italian)
Térence (French)

Famous people named Terrence

Terrence Howard is an American actor known for his roles in films such as 'Hustle & Flow' and the TV series 'Empire'.

Terrence Malick is an acclaimed American film director, known for his visually stunning films like 'The Tree of Life'.

Terrence McNally was an influential American playwright, recognized for his works on Broadway.

Terrence Ross is a professional basketball player who has played in the NBA.

Fictional characters named Terrence

Terrence is a character in the animated series 'The Magic School Bus', known for his adventurous spirit.

Terrence is a character in the video game series 'Angry Birds', often depicted as a large, powerful bird.

Sibling Suggestions

Thomas Tobias Tanner Tristan Troy

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Terrence was first seen in the United States in 1886. Terrence has ranked as high as #380 nationally, which occurred in 1955, and has been most popular in Illinois, New York, Ohio, California, and Michigan. In the past 5 years the name Terrence has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Terrence (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	13	22%
IL	9	16%
CA	9	16%
FL	9	16%
NY	7	12%
NC	6	10%
LA	5	9%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1886	10
1888	10
1889	5
1890	9
1892	6
1893	7
1894	5
1895	6
1896	8
1897	11
1898	7
1900	5
1901	5
1907	7
1908	6
1909	5
1910	9
1911	11
1912	17
1913	18
1914	19
1915	26
1916	18
1917	25
1918	40
1919	30
1920	55
1921	60
1922	53
1923	61
1924	35
1925	68
1926	54
1927	63
1928	63
1929	72
1930	67
1931	72
1932	95
1933	112
1934	130
1935	171
1936	216
1937	246
1938	310
1939	354
1940	397
1941	444
1942	555
1943	627
1944	614
1945	598
1946	939
1947	1,100
1948	1,204
1949	1,177
1950	1,267
1951	1,171
1952	1,164
1953	1,217
1954	1,440
1955	1,497
1956	1,451
1957	1,304
1958	1,218
1959	1,104
1960	1,013
1961	998
1962	988
1963	1,013
1964	1,271
1965	1,030
1966	1,090
1967	1,065
1968	1,132
1969	1,218
1970	1,460
1971	1,239
1972	1,161
1973	1,166
1974	1,106
1975	1,149
1976	1,164
1977	1,152
1978	1,116
1979	1,192
1980	1,185
1981	1,077
1982	1,075
1983	1,008
1984	993
1985	942
1986	939
1987	1,044
1988	1,241
1989	1,162
1990	1,055
1991	1,053
1992	1,055
1993	915
1994	802
1995	652
1996	623
1997	581
1998	491
1999	497
2000	480
2001	431
2002	397
2003	440
2004	354
2005	403
2006	467
2007	449
2008	420
2009	456
2010	426
2011	364
2012	340
2013	329
2014	329
2015	279
2016	272
2017	263
2018	217
2019	184
2020	173
2021	148
2022	151
2023	134
2024	116