Terence Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Terence originates from the Latin name 'Terentius', likely derived from a word meaning 'to rub' or 'to wear away'. It has evolved through history from Latin to modern English usage. Terence is associated with tenderness and has no biblical relevance. The name has maintained a classic image, with notable figures contributing to its recognition.
The name Terence is most popular in District of Columbia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Terence has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Terence' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1275th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 545th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 293rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 335th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 441st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1082nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1973rd out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7335th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8267th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 13048th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Terence' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Terence"
Pronunciation
/ˈtɛrəns/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Terence is derived from the Latin name 'Terentius', which was a Roman family name. It is thought to be of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Latin word 'terere', meaning 'to rub' or 'to wear away'.
Meaning
tender
Language Evolution
Terentius (Latin), Terence (English)
Historical Usage
The name Terence gained popularity during the Roman Republic and was borne by the Roman playwright Publius Terentius Afer in the 2nd century BC. It saw a resurgence in use during the Renaissance and has remained in use in various forms in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Terry, Terra, Terrence
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Terence is viewed as a classic and somewhat formal name. It is often associated with gentleness and sophistication.
Famous People
Terence Hill (Italian actor), Terence McKenna (American ethnobotanist), Terence Tao (Australian mathematician)
Explore More Terence Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Terence"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Terence"
"Terence" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1275th of 7545 | 512 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 545th of 6773 | 2,179 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 293rd of 7552 | 11,971 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 335th of 10718 | 8,906 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 441st of 16616 | 7,248 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1082nd of 24088 | 2,495 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1973rd of 23106 | 909 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7335th of 12526 | 44 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 8267th of 19264 | 70 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 13048th of 27321 | 56 |
Regional Popularity of "Terence" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
83.05% 1176th/1416 |
43.29% 597th/1379 |
- |
73.29% 837th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
27.30% 422nd/1546 |
19.86% 309th/1556 |
81.73% 1923rd/2353 |
28.12% 435th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
10.73% 239th/2227 |
8.44% 205th/2430 |
14.90% 425th/2853 |
12.29% 341st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
11.37% 334th/2937 |
6.66% 232nd/3483 |
9.41% 331st/3518 |
11.50% 465th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
13.05% 481st/3685 |
7.35% 329th/4475 |
7.35% 382nd/5194 |
9.72% 614th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
26.19% 1200th/4582 |
15.67% 809th/5164 |
14.23% 1041st/7313 |
18.61% 1389th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
60.39% 2406th/3984 |
42.39% 1902nd/4487 |
29.71% 2027th/6822 |
29.43% 1847th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Terence" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Terence"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Terence" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.