The first name Tessa

In 2025, 56 girls were named Tessa, making it the 667th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 78 births (#410).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Tessa with other names.

In 2025, 978 girls born in the United States were named Tessa, the 311th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2007, when 1,753 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.

• Tessa Thompson
  American actress (born 1983)
• Tessa Virtue
  Canadian ice dancer, born 1989
• Tessa Sanderson
  British javelin thrower (born 1956)
• Tessa Jowell
  British politician (1947–2018)
• Tessa Worley
  French alpine skier, born 1989
• Tessa Violet
  American singer, born 1990
• Tessa Wullaert
  Belgian footballer, born 1993
• Tessa Khan
  Environmental lawyer
• Tessa Blanchard
  American professional wrestler, born 1995
• Tessa Gobbo
  American rower, born 1990
• Tessa Ferrer
  American actress (born 1986)
• Tessa Appeldoorn
  Dutch rower, born 1973

• Sophia
• Chloe
• Phoebe
• Penelope
• Zoe
• Georgia
• Alexandra
• Margaret
• Iris
• Lydia
• Catherine
• Thea
• Nicole
• Ariana
• Katherine
• Zoey

All 347 names of Greek origin

What does the name Tessa mean?

Contraction of Teresa.

What is the origin of the name Tessa?

Contraction of Teresa.

How popular is the name Tessa?

In 2025, 56 girls born in England and Wales were named Tessa, ranking 667th. Its peak was 1996, with 78 births.

Is Tessa a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 55,939 US babies named Tessa since 1880 were girls.

When was Tessa most popular?

2007 in the United States, when 1,753 babies were named Tessa, its highest rank at 190th.

How do you pronounce Tessa?

Tessa is /ˈtɛsə/, 2 syllables.