The first name Terence
A boy’s name from Latin.
Pronounced /ˈtɛɹəns/ 2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
From Latin Terentius, a Roman family name of obscure origin, borne by a Roman playwright and by early Christian saints. * In Ireland, it has been used to represent Turlough.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 22 boys were named Terence, making it the 1,276th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1997, with 59 births (#383).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Terence with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Terence at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 47 boys born in the United States were named Terence, the 2,753rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1964, when 1,014 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Terence in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Terence
59 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Terence TaoAustralian-American mathematician, born 1975
- Terence StampBritish actor (1938–2025)
- Terence McKennaAmerican ethnobotanist and mystic (1946–2000)
- Terence YoungBritish film director and screenwriter (1915–1994)
- Terence KongoloDutch-Swiss association football player (born 1994)
- Terence WinterAmerican television and film writer, born 1960
- Terence RattiganBritish playwright, screenwriter (1911-1977)
- Terence CrawfordAmerican boxer, born 1987
- Terence FisherBritish film director (1904–1980)
- Terence BlanchardAmerican musician and composer, born 1962
- Terence DaviesBritish film director and screenwriter (1945–2023)
- Terence T. HenricksAmerican astronaut, born 1952
More Latin boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Terence mean?
- From Latin Terentius, a Roman family name of obscure origin, borne by a Roman playwright and by early Christian saints. * In Ireland, it has been used to represent Turlough.
- What is the origin of the name Terence?
- From Latin Terentius, a Roman family name of obscure origin, borne by a Roman playwright and by early Christian saints. * In Ireland, it has been used to represent Turlough.
- How popular is the name Terence?
- In 2025, 22 boys born in England and Wales were named Terence, ranking 1,276th. Its peak was 1997, with 59 births.
- What are nicknames for Terence?
- Common nicknames for Terence include Terry.
- Is Terence a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 34,460 US babies named Terence since 1880 were boys.
- When was Terence most popular?
- 1964 in the United States, when 1,014 babies were named Terence, its highest rank at 241st.
- How do you pronounce Terence?
- Terence is /ˈtɛɹəns/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Terence?
- Terrance, Terrence and Terance.