Tessa Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Tessa is a name of Greek origin, derived from 'Theresa', meaning 'harvester'. It has evolved from historical forms such as Theresa and Teresa. The name embodies traits of warmth and creativity, with no biblical relevance. Tessa gained popularity in the late 20th century and is currently perceived as modern and friendly.
The name Tessa 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 MidWest 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 declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Tessa has been stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, 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 male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Tessa' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 21999th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4757th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4026th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2020th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 665th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 304th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 242nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 258th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Tessa' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Tessa"
Pronunciation
/ˈtɛsə/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Tessa is derived from the Greek name 'Theresa', which is believed to mean 'to harvest' or 'harvester'.
Meaning
harvester
Language Evolution
Theresa, Teresa, Tessa
Historical Usage
The name Tessa gained popularity in the late 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a diminutive of Theresa.
Variants & Derivatives
Teresa, Theresa, Tess
Modern Popularity & Image
Tessa is viewed as a modern and friendly name, often associated with warmth and creativity.
Famous People
Tessa Thompson, an American actress, Tessa Virtue, a Canadian ice dancer
Explore More Tessa Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Tessa"
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 "Tessa"
"Tessa" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 21999th of 24088 | 8 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4757th of 9107 | 60 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4026th of 9204 | 92 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2020th of 12526 | 557 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 665th of 19264 | 3,912 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 304th of 27321 | 14,022 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 242nd of 35406 | 21,342 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 258th of 30306 | 14,915 |
Regional Popularity of "Tessa" 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) |
- | - |
65.06% 4758th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Tessa" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
83.74% 1865th/2227 |
85.51% 2078th/2430 |
59.80% 1706th/2853 |
77.01% 2137th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
20.43% 600th/2937 |
27.91% 972nd/3483 |
17.48% 615th/3518 |
16.64% 673rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
6.30% 232nd/3685 |
9.01% 403rd/4475 |
6.93% 360th/5194 |
4.40% 278th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
3.91% 179th/4582 |
4.05% 209th/5164 |
4.44% 325th/7313 |
3.47% 259th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
4.77% 190th/3984 |
3.90% 175th/4487 |
5.17% 353rd/6822 |
4.83% 303rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Tessa"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Tessa" 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.