Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Terrence

Terrence

♂ Boy

Pronounced TER-uhns /ˈtɛr.əns/Medium

Meaning: from the Roman family name Terentius, of uncertain origin; sometimes linked to Latin 'terere' ('to rub, thresh')Medium

In 30 seconds: Terrence comes from the Roman family name Terentius, whose original meaning is genuinely uncertain.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumLatin
Meaningfrom the Roman family name Terentius, of uncertain origin; sometimes linked to Latin 'terere' ('to rub, thresh')
U.S. rank (2025)#1600 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births107 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1955
Total births (all-time)≈ 72,412

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195518862025

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 name goes back to the old Roman clan name Terentius, and scholars do not agree on what it first meant. One guess links it to the Latin verb 'terere', meaning to rub or thresh, but this is far from settled. So Terrence is best understood as an inherited Roman name whose root has been lost rather than one with a confident translation.

English handed the name a small family of spellings, from the older Terence to Terance and Terrance, alongside the Latin Terentius and the short form Tero. Actor Terrence Howard, known for Hustle & Flow and Empire, has kept the fuller double-r spelling familiar.

Did you know? Terrence is a spelling variant of Terence, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'origin uncertain' while changing the visual style.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Terrence — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

TeranceTerenceTerranceTerentiusTero

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Terrence Howard (1969–present)
    American actor and singer known for films such as Hustle & Flow and Iron Man, and the television series Empire.

If you like Terrence…

Terence— The single-r spelling and the form closest to the Latin Terentius.
Terrance— A common respelling that swaps the middle vowel while keeping the sound.
Clarence— a fellow Latin choice
Justice— a fellow Latin choice
Kaydence— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Terrence

By themeenglish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Terrence mean?

Terrence is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Terrence?

It's commonly said TER-uhns /ˈtɛr.əns/.

Is Terrence a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Terrence?

In 2024, Terrence ranked #1524 in the U.S. for boys, with 116 births recorded.

💬 Ask Nia