Terek
A masculine name of Turkic origin meaning "tree, stem".
Name Census estimates that about 273 living Americans carry the first name Terek. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Terek today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Terek births was 1998 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Terek. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
273
~ 1 in 1,255,510 Americans
Peak year
1998
18 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2020 SSA rank
#13,835
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Terek: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Terek from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 96 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Terek by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Terek during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tereks live
Origin
Meaning and history of Terek
The given name Terek is believed to have originated from the Russian language, with its roots dating back to the 17th century. It is a Russianized form of the Turkish word "terek," which translates to "tamarisk," a type of tree or shrub found in the arid regions of Central Asia.
In its earliest recorded usage, Terek was a reference to the Terek River, a major waterway that flows through the Caucasus Mountains in southern Russia. The name gained popularity among the Cossack communities that settled along the riverbanks, and it was often given to newborn boys as a symbol of strength and resilience.
One of the earliest documented mentions of the name Terek can be found in the writings of Mikhail Lermontov, a prominent Russian poet and novelist of the 19th century. In his epic poem "The Demon," published in 1841, Lermontov introduces a character named Terek, a Cossack warrior known for his bravery and unwavering spirit.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Terek. One such figure was Terek Taimourazovich Bashiev (1915-1989), a Soviet military pilot and Hero of the Soviet Union during World War II. He was awarded the prestigious title for his courageous actions and contributions to the war effort.
Another famous bearer of the name was Terek Aliyev (1932-2003), a renowned Azerbaijani painter and artist. His works, which often depicted scenes from rural life and traditional Azerbaijani culture, have been exhibited in galleries around the world and are celebrated for their vibrant colors and intricate details.
In the realm of sports, Terek Saidov (born 1976) is a former Uzbekistani professional boxer who competed in the light welterweight division. He represented Uzbekistan in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and won a bronze medal, making him a national hero in his home country.
Terek Zortchev (born 1988) is a Bulgarian professional wrestler who has competed in various promotions around the world, including the WWE. Known for his impressive physique and powerful moves, he has earned a dedicated following among wrestling fans globally.
While the name Terek may have originated from a specific geographic region, it has transcended borders and cultures, serving as a symbol of strength, resilience, and cultural identity for those who bear it.
People
Terek + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Terek as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Terek: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Terek?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 273 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Terek going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,255,510 US residents.
Is Terek a common name?
We classify Terek as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 280 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Terek most popular?
The single biggest year for Terek was 1998, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Terek is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Terek a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Terek in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.