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Home › Baby Names Directory › Terrell

Terrell

♂ Boy

Pronounced tuh-REL /tə.ˈɹɛl/Medium

Meaning: From an English surname, possibly from Norman French 'tirel' (stubborn person, one who pulls). Popular as a given name in African American communities.Medium

In 30 seconds: Terrell comes from an English surname, possibly from the Norman French 'tirel', a word for a stubborn person or one who pulls.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningFrom an English surname, possibly from Norman French 'tirel' (stubborn person, one who pulls). Popular as a given name in African American communities.
U.S. rank (2025)#1538 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births113 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1989
Total births (all-time)≈ 36,497

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198918852025

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

The surname is thought to derive from Norman French 'tirel', applied to someone stubborn or who pulls or drags. As a given name it has been especially popular in African American communities, where it became a well-established first name.

One widely recognized bearer is Terrell Owens, the NFL wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee regarded as one of the greatest receivers in league history.

Did you know? Terrell likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Terrell — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Terell

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Terrell Owens (b. 1973)
    American former NFL wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, regarded as one of the greatest receivers in league history.

If you like Terrell…

Tyrell— shares the surname-derived sound and similar usage as a given name
Darrell— matches the surname-to-first-name pattern and the '-rell' ending
Kendall— shares the -ll ending
Axell— echoes that soft -ll sound
Darell— a fellow English choice

Explore names like Terrell

By themeenglishsurname-styleafrican-american
By meaningGift / Blessing

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Terrell mean?

Terrell is usually explained as meaning 'to pull' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Terrell?

It's commonly said tuh-REL /tə.ˈɹɛl/.

Is Terrell a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Terrell is used as a boy name.

How popular is Terrell?

In 2024, Terrell ranked #1495 in the U.S. for boys, with 120 births recorded.

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