A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Tressie since 1880
Babies named Tressie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Tressie's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 136 |
| 1890s | 313 |
| 1900s | 529 |
| 1910s | 1,031 |
| 1920s | 1,055 |
| 1930s | 616 |
| 1940s | 359 |
| 1950s | 253 |
| 1960s | 343 |
| 1970s | 278 |
| 1980s | 181 |
| 1990s | 119 |
| 2000s | 91 |
| 2010s | 38 |
| 2020s | 18 |
Meaning & origin
Tressie, a diminutive of Theresa, enjoyed its peak popularity in 1901, when it ranked 14,942 overall. After decades of decline, the name has been rising again since 2022, though it remains rare. With a current 1-in-321,453 probability of use, Tressie offers a return to turn-of-the-century naming style, similar to other revival names like Lottie and Effie. Its trajectory suggests a slow but steady comeback among parents seeking vintage-sounding nicknames as full given names.
Tressie is a diminutive or pet form of Theresa, which itself is of uncertain origin but often associated with the Greek word 'therizein' meaning 'to harvest' or the Greek island of Thera. The name Theresa was popularized by Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Tressie emerged as a separate given name in the late 19th century, particularly in the United States, and saw modest use through the early 1900s.
Where Tressie 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.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tress, Tessie, Tess
Sibling names for Tressie
Names that share Tressie's style, for a brother or sister.
