Terry

♂ Boy

Pronounced TAIR-ee /ˈtɛər.i/High

Meaning: Power of the tribe; English form of the Germanic name Theodoric or a pet form of Terence, from Latin TerentiusMedium

In 30 seconds: An English name that may be a short form of Terence (Latin: smooth, polished) or a pet form of Theodoric (Germanic: ruler of the people). A friendly two-syllable name from the mid-20th century.

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Origin MediumGermanic, English

MeaningPower of the tribe; English form of the Germanic name Theodoric or a pet form of Terence, from Latin Terentius

U.S. rank (2025)#1116 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births192 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1957

Total births (all-time)≈ 424,522

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

Terry may be a short form of Terence (Latin Terentius), an English form of the Germanic Theodoric (people-ruler), or a simple English diminutive. All three paths are documented in English naming history.

Terry peaked in the U.S. in the 1950s–1970s. It ranked #1186 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Terry Pratchett (1948–2015), creator of the Discworld fantasy series with over 85 million books sold, gave the name Terry one of English fiction's most beloved and prolific associations — his satirical genius reshaped fantasy literature.

Overall data confidence 80%

Behind the Name — Terry — uncertain etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

TerrenceTerence

Nicknames

Ter

Famous Bearers

★Terry Pratchett (1948–2015)
British author of the Discworld fantasy series, with tens of millions of copies sold. A beloved and prolific fantasy author.

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Explore names like Terry

By themeenglish latin classic two-syllable germanic mid-century

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Terry mean?

Terry may mean 'ruler of the people' (from Germanic Theodoric), 'smooth' (from Latin Terence), or simply be an English diminutive. The etymology is uncertain.

How do you pronounce Terry?

It's said TAIR-ee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Terry a boy or girl name?

Terry is used for both sexes.

How popular is Terry?

Terry ranked #1186 for U.S. boys in 2024.