Teresa is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Late Latin word 'Tertius', which means 'third'. It is believed that this name was originally given to girls born on the third day after their birth or as the third child in a family. The name Teresa has been popular throughout history and has been used by many notable figures, including Saint Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish nun who founded several monasteries and wrote extensively on matters of prayer and mysticism.
The name Teresa has also been used by many royalty and nobility throughout Europe, such as Queen Teresa I of Portugal and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. In addition to its Latin origins, the name Teresa is also popular in many other languages and cultures around the world, including Italian (Teresa), Portuguese (Teresinha), Polish (Teresa), Hungarian (Terézia) and Greek (Θηρεσία).
In literature and art, the name Teresa has been used by many famous authors and artists to create memorable characters. For example, in Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest", one of the main characters is named Miss Prism, who writes a three-volume novel titled "The Life and Adventures of the Right Honourable Lady Teresa Carlotta de travers". In music, the name Teresa has been used by many composers to title their works, such as Franz Schubert's song cycle "Die schöne Müllerin" (The Beautiful Miller Girl), which includes a poem dedicated to Teresa.
The name Teresa has been quite popular in the United States over the past century and a half, with a total of 415,423 babies named Teresa born between 1880 and 2023.
The popularity of the name Teresa began to rise significantly around the late 19th century. In 1880, there were only 50 births in the United States with the name Teresa. However, by 1946, the number of births had increased to 1,834, marking a significant increase in popularity.
The peak of Teresa's popularity came during the mid-20th century. Between 1950 and 1960, there were over 1 million babies named Teresa born in the United States alone. The highest number of births with the name Teresa occurred in 1957, with a total of 15,686.
However, like many other names, the popularity of Teresa has seen its ups and downs over the years. After reaching its peak in the mid-20th century, the number of babies named Teresa began to decline steadily. By the turn of the millennium, the number of births with the name had fallen significantly, with only 830 babies named Teresa born in the United States in 2001.
Despite this decline in popularity, the name Teresa remains relatively common today. In recent years, between 300 and 400 babies have been named Teresa annually in the United States. The most recent data from 2023 shows that there were 320 births with the name Teresa.
Overall, these statistics show that while the popularity of the name Teresa has varied over time, it remains a classic choice for parents in the United States, with a rich history and a significant number of individuals sharing this name.