Tereza is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Terentius, which was believed to have been derived from the Latin word "terna," meaning "three." The name Tereza is associated with the Roman goddess of fertility and agriculture, Terra, whose name also means "earth."
The name Tereza gained popularity during the Middle Ages in Europe, particularly in Portugal and Spain. It was often given to girls born around harvest time or to honor the earth's abundance.
One notable historical figure named Tereza is Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582), a Spanish nun and mystic who played a significant role in reforming the Carmelite order. She is considered one of the most influential figures in the Catholic Church and was canonized in 1622.
Today, Tereza remains a popular name in many countries, particularly in Portugal, Brazil, and Spain. It is often associated with kindness, strength, and wisdom, although these traits are not inherent to the name itself but rather influenced by cultural perceptions and personal experiences. Overall, Tereza is a name rich in history and meaning that continues to be celebrated around the world.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Tereza has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States. The earliest record of the name appears in 1929 with five births that year. This number remained consistent until 1945, with only five births each year from 1930 to 1938 and again in 1954.
The popularity of the name Tereza began to increase slightly in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with six births recorded in both 1952 and 1953, and eleven births in 1961. This upward trend continued into the 1970s, with peaks of nineteen births in 1962, eighteen births in 1975, and twenty-two births in 1996.
The name Tereza has seen several periods of fluctuation in popularity over the years. After reaching a high of twenty-two births in 1996, the number of babies named Tereza decreased to fifteen births in 1997 and ten births in both 1998 and 1999. However, this downward trend was reversed in the early 2000s, with peaks of twenty-one births in 2001 and eighteen births in 2002.
More recently, the popularity of the name Tereza has been relatively steady, with an average of around ten births per year from 2010 to 2023. The highest number of births recorded for the name Tereza in recent years was eleven in 2012, while the lowest was six in both 2018 and 2022.
Overall, the name Tereza has been given to a total of 776 babies born in the United States since 1929. While its popularity has varied over the years, it remains a distinctive and memorable name choice for parents looking for something unique for their child.