The name Tess is of Greek origin and means "harvester" or "to gather". It is a short form of the name Thestia, which was the goddess of hearth and home in Greek mythology. The name Tess has been used as a given name for girls since at least the 19th century, although it gained popularity during the mid-20th century. Today, Tess remains a popular choice among parents looking for a unique yet classic name for their daughters.
The name Tess has been quite popular in the United States over the years, with a total of 14,539 babies named Tess born between 1889 and 2023.
The earliest recorded births for the name Tess were in 1889, with six births that year. The number of births remained relatively low until the early 1900s when it started to increase steadily. In 1905, there were 13 births, and by 1916, the number had risen to 24.
The most notable spike in popularity for the name Tess occurred between 1981 and 1990. During this decade, the number of births jumped significantly:
* In 1981, there were 104 births.
* This figure nearly tripled by 1982 with 133 births.
* The following year, in 1983, there were 191 births.
The peak popularity for the name Tess was reached in 1990 with an impressive 403 births. However, this popularity was short-lived as the number of births started to decline thereafter.
Despite the decrease in popularity after the 1990s, the name Tess remains quite common today. In recent years:
* There were 283 births in 2011.
* This figure dropped to 255 in 2012 and continued to decline until reaching 142 in 2021.
* The most recent data from 2022 shows that there were 107 babies named Tess born that year.
While the popularity of the name Tess has fluctuated over time, it is clear that this name has been a consistent choice for parents in the United States.