A 1920s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Therese since 1880
Babies named Therese per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Therese's real moment was 1927.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 102 |
| 1890s | 204 |
| 1900s | 282 |
| 1910s | 899 |
| 1920s | 4,501 |
| 1930s | 3,227 |
| 1940s | 3,165 |
| 1950s | 9,333 |
| 1960s | 7,584 |
| 1970s | 1,943 |
| 1980s | 1,431 |
| 1990s | 1,053 |
| 2000s | 846 |
| 2010s | 608 |
| 2020s | 412 |
Meaning & origin
Therese is a feminine name with deep European roots, primarily associated with French and German traditions. In the United States, it reached its greatest popularity in 1927, ranking highest in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. As of the latest data in 2025, the name ranks 2,298th, or 1 in 20,345 births. Though its usage declined through the mid-20th century, Therese has been rising again since 2012, reflecting renewed interest in classic saint-inspired names. The name's French spelling, with its accent on the first e, offers a distinctive alternative to the more common Teresa or Theresa, appealing to parents who appreciate names with literary and religious history.
Therese is the French and German form of the Spanish and Portuguese Teresa, whose origin is uncertain. It is often linked to the Greek verb therizo (to harvest) or to the island of Therasia. The name gained prominence through Saint Teresa of Ávila (16th century) and later Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (19th century), a French Carmelite nun whose spiritual autobiography 'Story of a Soul' popularized the spelling Therese in English-speaking countries.
Where Therese is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Therese” around the world
Where Therese lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Terry, Tess, Tessa, Reese
Sibling names for Therese
Names that share Therese's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Catherine, Marie, Louise, Madeleine, Rose, Aleta, Bernadette, Bernardine, Jeanmarie, Anmarie, Marycatherine, Philomene, Taresa, Ellaree, Lourine, Madine, Bernedette, Aritha, Burnadette, Helayne, Joanmarie, Marieanne
Brothers: Joseph, Louis, Francis, Andrew, John, Gerard, Jerome, Alois, Aloys, Antonie, Auguste, Rosaire
