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Teresa

♀ Girl

Pronounced teh-REE-suh /tɛˈriː.sə/High

Meaning: Of uncertain ancient origin; most likely from Greek Therasia (the name of a Greek island near Santorini) or from the Greek therizein (to reap, to harvest); meaning harvester or from the island TherasiaMedium

In 30 seconds: Teresa is a Spanish and Italian name of likely Greek origin, meaning harvester or from the island of Therasia, made illustrious by two great saints — Teresa of Avila and Teresa of Lisieux — and by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa.
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Origin MediumGreek, Italian, Spanish
MeaningOf uncertain ancient origin; most likely from Greek Therasia (the name of a Greek island near Santorini) or from the Greek therizein (to reap, to harvest); meaning harvester or from the island Therasia
U.S. rank (2025)#911 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births291 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1961
Total births (all-time)≈ 416,037

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196118802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

The etymology of Teresa is genuinely debated. The most widely accepted theories connect it to the Greek island of Therasia (the smaller island near Thera/Santorini) or to the Greek verb therizein (to reap, to harvest). The name was restricted to the Iberian Peninsula for centuries after Saint Teresa — likely a Spanish saint of late antiquity — established its use there. It gained wider European currency through the canonisation and writings of Saint Teresa of Avila (1515–1582), the Spanish mystic and reformer of the Carmelite order.

Teresa became one of the most important names in Catholic Europe after Saint Teresa of Avila's canonisation in 1622 and the establishment of a second Saint Teresa with the beatification of Therese of Lisieux (1873–1897), known as the Little Flower. In the 20th century the name's global reach was amplified by Mother Teresa (born Agnes Bojaxhiu, 1910–1997), the Albanian-Indian Catholic nun and Nobel laureate who became a global symbol of compassion. In the United States Teresa has been a consistently popular name across the mid-to-late 20th century.

Did you know? There are two major Saint Teresas whose names are spelled differently: Saint Teresa of Avila (Spanish: Teresa) and Saint Therese of Lisieux (French: Therese) — yet both names are the same name in their respective languages, and both women are doctors of the Catholic Church, an extremely rare designation.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Teresa — etymology and saintly bearers

Variations

TheresaThereseTeriTess

Nicknames

TerryTessTeriTere

Famous Bearers

  • ★Mother Teresa (1910–1997)
    Albanian-Indian Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity and devoted her life to serving the poor in Calcutta; awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and canonised in 2016.

If you like Teresa…

Theresa— the anglicised form of the same name with identical pronunciation and meaning
Rosalia— three-syllable Spanish and Italian classic saints name with the same Catholic devotional tradition
Concepcion— Spanish Catholic saints name with comparable religious and cultural depth in the Hispanic tradition
Catalina— three-syllable Spanish saints name with the same Catholic naming tradition and Romance elegance

Frequently Asked

What does the name Teresa mean?

Teresa likely comes from Greek therizein (to reap, to harvest) or from Therasia, a Greek island; its exact etymology remains debated.

How do you pronounce Teresa?

It is said teh-REE-suh — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Teresa the same as Theresa?

Yes, Teresa is the Spanish and Italian form while Theresa is the Germanic and English form; they are variants of the same name.

Was Mother Teresa named Teresa?

Mother Teresa was born Agnes Bojaxhiu but took the religious name Teresa upon entering the convent, in honor of Therese of Lisieux.