Terrilee

Meaning & origin

Terrilee first appeared in U.S. baby name records in 1946, and its highest frequency came in 1955, when it was given to an estimated 41 baby girls. The name saw modest use throughout the 1950s and 1960s, but by the 1970s its usage had declined significantly. As of the latest data from 2025, fewer than 5 newborns were named Terrilee, placing it well outside the top 1,000. The compound name style was characteristic of mid-century American naming, reflecting a preference for blending familiar family names or diminutives. Terrilee has remained a stable but rare choice, with most recorded births occurring in the 1950s decade. No single state recorded a particularly high concentration, as usage was dispersed across the country.

Terrilee is a modern compound name formed from Terri, a feminine diminutive of Teresa (of uncertain Greek origin, possibly meaning 'harvester' or 'summer'), and Lee, an English surname derived from Old English 'leah' meaning 'woodland clearing' or 'meadow'. This type of compound name was especially popular in the United States during the mid-20th century, reflecting a trend of combining two short, familiar names into a new given name.