The first name Theresa
A girl’s name from Greek.
3 syllables Female
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
First used in Spain, supposedly derived from Latin Thēra, from Ancient Greek Θήρᾱ (Thḗrā), name of a city in Santorini, Greece.
A form of Teresa.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 21 girls were named Theresa, making it the 1,454th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1997, with 42 births (#604).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Theresa with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Theresa at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 136 girls born in the United States were named Theresa, the 1,559th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1961, when 11,960 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.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
Famous people named Theresa
41 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Theresa RussellAmerican actress, born 1957
- Theresa RandleAmerican actress, born 1964
- Theresa VilliersBritish politician (born 1968)
- Archduchess Maria Theresa, Countess of ChambordAustro-Modenese Imperial and Royal (1817-1886)
- Theresa SaldanaAmerican actress (1954–2016)
- Theresa WeldAmerican figure skater, 1893–1978
- Princess Theresa of BavariaBavarian princess, scientist, philanthropist (1850-1925)
- Frances Theresa DensmoreAmerican anthropologist and ethnologist (1867-1957)
- Theresa AndrewsAmerican swimmer, born 1962
- Theresa MalkielAmerican labor activist, suffragist, and educator, 1874–1949
- Theresa LukeCanadian rower, born 1967
- Theresa NielsenDanish footballer, born 1986
More Greek girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Theresa mean?
- First used in Spain, supposedly derived from Latin Thēra, from Ancient Greek Θήρᾱ (Thḗrā), name of a city in Santorini, Greece.
- What is the origin of the name Theresa?
- First used in Spain, supposedly derived from Latin Thēra, from Ancient Greek Θήρᾱ (Thḗrā), name of a city in Santorini, Greece.
- How popular is the name Theresa?
- In 2025, 21 girls born in England and Wales were named Theresa, ranking 1,454th. Its peak was 1997, with 42 births.
- Is Theresa a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 405,831 US babies named Theresa since 1880 were girls.
- When was Theresa most popular?
- 1961 in the United States, when 11,960 babies were named Theresa, its highest rank at 35th.
- What name is Theresa a form of?
- Theresa is a form of Teresa.
- What are other spellings of Theresa?
- Teresa.