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Tess

♀ Girl

Pronounced TEHS /ˈtɛs/Medium

Meaning: SummerMedium

In 30 seconds: Tess is an English girl's name meaning 'summer'. It is short, warm, and stands easily on its own.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Dutch
MeaningSummer
U.S. rank (2024)#1784 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births113 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1992
Total births (all-time)≈ 14,653

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199218892024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Tess developed in English as a short form connected to the fuller name Tessa, and it carries the meaning 'summer'. Long established as an independent given name, it has the brisk, friendly feel of a one-syllable name that needs no nickname. The variations Teri, Terri, Terrie, Terry and Tessa sit alongside it.

Tess has a literary footing too, and real bearers include the actress Tess Harper (born 1950) and the novelist Tess Gerritsen (born 1953). Its clipped, single-syllable sound gives it a crisp, no-nonsense charm.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Tess is 'summer', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Tess — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

TeriTerriTerrieTerryTessa

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Tess Harper (1950–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Tess Gerritsen (1953–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Tess…

Tessa— The fuller form Tess is most directly drawn from.
Terry— A variation of Tess with the same compact sound.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tess mean?

Tess is usually explained as meaning 'summer' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Tess?

It's commonly said TEHS /ˈtɛs/.

Is Tess a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Tess?

In 2024, Tess ranked #1784 in the U.S. for girls, with 113 births recorded.