Teresa
First recorded as the name of a fourth-century Spanish saint.
Every Teresa since 1880 — 417,209 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Teresa
Teresa is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #911 in 2025 with 291 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 417,209 American babies have been named Teresa. Its peak came in 1961, when 18,949 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Teresa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Teresa year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 291 | #911 | — | — |
| 2024 | 314 | #864 | — | — |
| 2023 | 322 | #843 | — | — |
| 2022 | 320 | #868 | — | — |
| 2021 | 342 | #815 | — | — |
| 2020 | 366 | #747 | — | — |
| 2019 | 349 | #796 | — | — |
| 2018 | 347 | #791 | — | — |
| 2017 | 397 | #723 | — | — |
| 2016 | 437 | #670 | — | — |
| 2015 | 429 | #668 | — | — |
| 2014 | 391 | #718 | — | — |
| 2013 | 437 | #650 | — | — |
| 2012 | 472 | #607 | — | — |
| 2011 | 544 | #535 | — | — |
| 2010 | 412 | #694 | — | — |
| 2009 | 453 | #654 | — | — |
| 2008 | 534 | #579 | — | — |
| 2007 | 563 | #547 | — | — |
| 2006 | 566 | #533 | — | — |
| 2005 | 672 | #453 | — | — |
| 2004 | 747 | #409 | — | — |
| 2003 | 704 | #428 | — | — |
| 2002 | 787 | #376 | — | — |
| 2001 | 830 | #357 | — | — |
| 2000 | 899 | #344 | — | — |
| 1995 | 1,044 | #263 | 10 | #5,876 |
| 1990 | 1,613 | #179 | 7 | #7,103 |
| 1985 | 2,210 | #132 | 12 | #3,779 |
| 1980 | 3,149 | #94 | 13 | #3,411 |
| 1975 | 4,640 | #61 | 19 | #2,355 |
| 1970 | 9,612 | #34 | 37 | #1,394 |
| 1965 | 14,578 | #24 | 43 | #1,160 |
| 1960 | 18,839 | #19 | 39 | #1,268 |
| 1955 | 13,126 | #26 | 25 | #1,570 |
| 1950 | 4,724 | #81 | 6 | #3,641 |
| 1945 | 1,339 | #171 | 7 | #2,971 |
| 1940 | 686 | #244 | 5 | #3,890 |
| 1935 | 715 | #234 | 9 | #2,696 |
| 1930 | 992 | #194 | 9 | #2,994 |
| 1925 | 955 | #206 | — | — |
| 1920 | 720 | #243 | — | — |
| 1915 | 686 | #229 | — | — |
| 1910 | 220 | #258 | — | — |
| 1905 | 178 | #238 | — | — |
| 1900 | 204 | #220 | — | — |
| 1895 | 167 | #209 | — | — |
| 1890 | 110 | #233 | — | — |
| 1885 | 66 | #251 | — | — |
| 1880 | 50 | #218 | — | — |
Famous people named Teresa
- Teresa of Ávila Religious figure · 1515–1582
- Teresa Teng Singer · 1953–1995
- Teresa Berganza Singer · b. 1933
- Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies Companion · 1822–1889
- Teresa Wright Actor · 1918–2005
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Teresa mean?
First recorded as the name of a fourth-century Spanish saint.
How popular is the name Teresa in 2025?
Teresa ranked #911 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 291 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Teresa?
417,209 babies have been named Teresa in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Teresa most popular?
Teresa peaked in 1961, when 18,949 newborns received the name.
Is Teresa a boy or girl name?
Teresa is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Teresa rising or falling?
Teresa is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Teresa?
Well-known people named Teresa include Teresa of Ávila (religious figure), Teresa Teng (singer), Teresa Berganza (singer).