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Terilyn
Pronounced TERR-uh-lin /ˈtɛrəlɪn/Medium
Meaning: Terilyn is a mid-century compound joining Teri, a pet form of Teresa, with the fashionable -lyn ending drawn from Lynn. Teresa's own origin is debated, tied to the Greek 'theros', 'summer', or to the island Therasia; Lynn comes from a Welsh word for a lake or pool. Terilyn carries Teri's Teresa flavor finished with the era's favorite -lyn tag.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Terilyn is a compound name, built from Teri (a short form of Teresa) and the -lyn ending taken from Lynn. Teresa traces variously to the Greek for 'summer' or to a place-name, while Lynn is a Welsh word for a lake. American parents at mid-century loved the -lyn tag, producing Marilyn, Carolyn and Sherilyn alongside Terilyn.
It was never common, drawing only a couple of dozen girls a year around its high point in the early nineteen-sixties before fading by the twenty-tens. A girl given it then is in her sixties now. It reads as a bright, of-its-decade blend.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Terilyn mean?
It joins Teri, a short form of Teresa, with the -lyn ending from Lynn.
How do you pronounce Terilyn?
It's said TERR-uh-lin /ˈtɛrəlɪn/, three syllables, stress on the first.
Is Terilyn a boy or girl name?
Terilyn is used as a girl's name.
Is Terilyn a popular name?
No, it has always been rare, a mid-century compound that peaked quietly in the early nineteen-sixties.