Tersa

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Tersa

Pronounced TER-suh /ˈtɛr.sə/Medium

Meaning: Tersa is best read as a contracted or variant spelling of Teresa, a name of Greek origin possibly meaning 'harvest' or drawn from the place name Therasia, long a staple of Spanish and Portuguese families.Low

In 30 seconds: Tersa is an uncommon girl's name, best read as a short form of Teresa. It peaked around 1969 (said TER-suh).

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Origin LowGreek, Spanish

MeaningTersa is best read as a contracted or variant spelling of Teresa, a name of Greek origin possibly meaning 'harvest' or drawn from the place name Therasia, long a staple of Spanish and Portuguese families.

U.S. rank (1982)#12164 ↘ Falling

1982 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1969

Total births (all-time)≈ 222

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

Tersa most plausibly grew as a contracted spelling of Teresa, whose Greek roots are uncertain but often linked to 'harvest' or to the island Therasia. It appeared chiefly among Hispanic families.

Tersa was never common in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak around 1969, and it stayed rare. A girl named Tersa then would be in her fifties today.

Did you know? Tersa carries the meaning of Teresa, a name made famous by saints Teresa of Avila and later Mother Teresa, though Tersa itself stayed a rare, pared-down spelling.

Overall data confidence 45%

References - Tersa — Contracted form of Teresa (Greek, uncertain 'harvest'/Therasia)

Variations

TeresaTheresaTressa

Nicknames

TessTerie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tersa…

Teresa— the parent name

Theresa— a like fuller form

Tessa— a like short Teresa form

Tressa— a close-sounding name

Explore names like Tersa

By themerare heritage spanish variant

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tersa mean?

It is a variant or contracted form of Teresa, a Greek name often linked to 'harvest.'

How do you pronounce Tersa?

It is said TER-suh /ˈtɛr.sə/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Tersa a boy or girl name?

Tersa is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Tersa?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the late nineteen-sixties.