Terri Girl

Popularity: #929 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TER-ee /ˈtɛri/

Origin: English; Latin

Meaning: English: Earth; Latin: Late Latin diminutive of Teresa

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Terri is derived from the Latin name Teresia, which itself is believed to have originated from the Greek name Therasia. The etymology of Therasia is often linked to the Greek word 'theras', meaning 'to harvest' or 'to reap', suggesting a connection to agriculture or fertility.

The name made its way into English through various linguistic transitions, including the adaptation of Teresia into Old French as Thérèse, before being anglicized as Terri in the 20th century. This evolution reflects the broader patterns of name adaptation and transformation across cultures and languages.

Historically, the name Teresia has been associated with several notable figures, including Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, a prominent French Catholic saint from the late 19th century, who is often referred to as "The Little Flower". Her life and writings have inspired many, contributing to the name's enduring significance in Christian contexts.

Additionally, the name has appeared in various literary and artistic works, further embedding it into cultural consciousness. The use of the name Terri can also be traced back to the mid-20th century when it became popularized in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States.

Culturally, the name Terri carries connotations of warmth and nurturing, often associated with feminine qualities. It has been used in various forms, including the diminutive Terry, which has historically been used for both males and females, showcasing the name's versatility.

The name's resonance in literature and its connection to significant religious figures have helped maintain its relevance over the years, reflecting broader themes of growth and care that are often celebrated in various cultures.

Famous people named Terri

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

We also feature individuals named Terri 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.

Terri Irwin is a conservationist and television personality best known for The Crocodile Hunter, Crikey! It's the Irwins, and her work with wildlife preservation.

Terri Nunn is a singer and actress best known for being the lead vocalist of the band Berlin and their hit song Take My Breath Away.

Terri Clark is a country music singer and songwriter best known for hits like Better Things to Do, If I Were You, and Girls Lie Too.

Fictional characters named Terri

The following list of fictional characters named Terri 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.

Terri is a fictional character from the animated television series The Magic School Bus. She is a student in Ms. Frizzle's class who often participates in the educational adventures.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Terri, 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 Terri. 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 Terri was first seen in the United States in 1922.

Terri has ranked as high as #95 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Terri 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 Terri 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 Terri.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 19 0 19
2024 26 0 26
2023 20 0 20
2022 32 0 32
2021 31 0 31
2020 45 0 45
2019 35 0 35
2018 33 0 33
2017 44 0 44
2016 40 0 40
2015 42 0 42
2014 51 0 51
2013 40 0 40
2012 51 0 51
2011 44 0 44
2010 50 0 50
2009 50 0 50
2008 69 5 64
2007 80 0 80
2006 88 0 88
2005 95 5 90
2004 96 0 96
2003 131 0 131
2002 155 11 144
2001 135 6 129
2000 136 0 136
1999 178 0 178
1998 176 0 176
1997 208 8 200
1996 234 5 229
1995 222 8 214
1994 264 8 256
1993 286 8 278
1992 313 8 305
1991 369 0 369
1990 445 19 426
1989 448 10 438
1988 492 12 480
1987 549 8 541
1986 641 11 630
1985 724 13 711
1984 809 13 796
1983 917 11 906
1982 1,101 11 1,090
1981 1,080 14 1,066
1980 1,078 10 1,068
1979 1,145 17 1,128
1978 1,128 12 1,116
1977 1,406 17 1,389
1976 1,409 21 1,388
1975 1,620 19 1,601
1974 1,847 21 1,826
1973 2,120 31 2,089
1972 2,517 22 2,495
1971 3,194 28 3,166
1970 3,435 33 3,402
1969 3,922 19 3,903
1968 4,296 29 4,267
1967 4,547 24 4,523
1966 4,958 37 4,921
1965 5,396 23 5,373
1964 7,184 40 7,144
1963 7,740 36 7,704
1962 8,458 25 8,433
1961 8,759 29 8,730
1960 8,773 30 8,743
1959 8,810 27 8,783
1958 8,218 34 8,184
1957 7,002 30 6,972
1956 5,770 26 5,744
1955 5,170 17 5,153
1954 4,141 11 4,130
1953 2,739 14 2,725
1952 2,071 0 2,071
1951 1,570 7 1,563
1950 1,113 7 1,106
1949 946 8 938
1948 855 6 849
1947 785 5 780
1946 515 5 510
1945 389 0 389
1944 242 0 242
1943 189 0 189
1942 143 0 143
1941 62 0 62
1940 51 0 51
1939 41 0 41
1938 29 0 29
1937 19 0 19
1936 16 0 16
1935 16 0 16
1934 13 0 13
1933 17 0 17
1932 13 0 13
1931 8 0 8
1930 8 0 8
1928 9 0 9
1927 13 0 13
1925 8 0 8
1924 5 0 5
1922 5 0 5

Top States for Terri (2022)

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
100%