Tess Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Tess is a name of Greek origin derived from Teresa, meaning 'harvester.' It has evolved through forms such as Teresa and Tessa before becoming popular in its own right. The name is associated with positive traits and has no direct biblical relevance. Its popularity surged in the late 19th century due to literary influences.
The name Tess is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. 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, Tess has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Tess' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1901st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4357th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3587th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2012th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 659th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 703rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1327th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Tess' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Tess"
Pronunciation
/tɛs/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
Tess is derived from the name Teresa, which has roots in the Greek word 'theros' meaning 'summer.'
Meaning
harvester
Language Evolution
Teresa, Tessa, Tess
Historical Usage
Tess gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly after the publication of Thomas Hardy's novel 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' in 1891, which introduced the name to a wider audience.
Variants & Derivatives
Tessa, Teresa, Tessy
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Tess is perceived as a charming and friendly name, often associated with warmth and approachability.
Famous People
Tess Holliday, Tess Thompson, Tess Daly
Explore More Tess Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Tess"
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 "Tess"
"Tess" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1901st of 9107 | 346 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4357th of 9204 | 77 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3587th of 12526 | 214 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2012th of 19264 | 687 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 659th of 27321 | 4,936 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 703rd of 35406 | 6,215 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1327th of 30306 | 2,123 |
Regional Popularity of "Tess" by Generation for Male 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) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Tess" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
75.92% 1047th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - |
94.59% 2625th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
86.82% 2550th/2937 |
100.00% 3483rd/3483 |
51.14% 1799th/3518 |
64.61% 2613th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
15.69% 578th/3685 |
12.74% 570th/4475 |
18.83% 978th/5194 |
10.21% 645th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
12.55% 575th/4582 |
9.00% 465th/5164 |
13.92% 1018th/7313 |
10.06% 751st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
29.22% 1164th/3984 |
19.77% 887th/4487 |
27.87% 1901st/6822 |
21.24% 1333rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Tess"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Tess" 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.