Terry is a name of English origin and it's a shortened form of Terrence or Terence. These names are derived from the Latin name Terenius, which means "from the land". The name Terry has been used for centuries and was particularly popular during the mid-20th century.
The name Terry first gained popularity in the United States in the late 19th century, but it wasn't until the 1940s that it became a common choice. During this time, many parents chose to give their sons shorter, more casual names like Terry as a reaction against the stuffy and formal naming trends of the past.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Terry, including Terry Gilliam, a British-American film director, actor, writer, and member of the Monty Python comedy group; Terry Fox, a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist; and Terry Davis, a British Labour Party politician who served as the Home Secretary from 2007 to 2010.
Today, Terry is still used as a given name but it has become less common than in previous decades. However, it remains a classic choice for parents looking for a simple, straightforward name with a traditional feel.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Terry has experienced a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past century in the United States.
The name first appeared with 7 births recorded in 1892, but it wasn't until the early 1900s that it started to gain traction, with 6 births in 1903 increasing to 16 births in 1911. The popularity of the name Terry peaked during the mid-20th century, with a remarkable surge from 818 births in 1942 to a peak of 5326 births in 1958.
However, since then, there has been a steady decline in the usage of the name Terry. From 4786 births in 1954, it decreased to 9 births in 2014 and 7 births in 2022. Despite this decrease, it's important to note that even in recent years, there have still been several babies named Terry each year.
In total, according to the provided statistics, 96933 babies were named Terry over the course of 128 years in the United States. This shows that while the name may not be as popular today as it was in its heyday, it remains a classic choice with enduring appeal.