Teria
An English feminine name derived from the Latin word "terra" meaning "earth".
Name Census estimates that about 529 living Americans carry the first name Teria. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Teria today is around 45 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Teria births was 1989 (28 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Teria. 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
529
~ 1 in 647,929 Americans
Peak year
1989
28 babies that year
Average age
45
years old
2009 SSA rank
#19,953
Tracked since 1953
Popularity
Teria: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Teria from the 1950s through to the 2000s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 188 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Teria 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 Teria during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Terias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Teria
The name Teria is believed to have its origins in ancient Greece, deriving from the Greek word "teras," which means "wonder" or "marvel." This connection suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were considered remarkable or awe-inspiring during that era.
In the realm of Greek mythology, there are references to Teria as a minor goddess associated with the natural world and the changing of seasons. Some sources also link the name to the Greek word "teros," meaning "to watch over" or "to guard," implying a protective or nurturing quality attributed to those bearing this moniker.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Teria can be traced back to the 5th century BCE, when it appears in ancient Greek texts and inscriptions. One notable figure from this time period was Teria of Crete, a renowned philosopher and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of ethics and virtue.
As the centuries passed, the name Teria continued to be used, albeit sparsely, throughout various regions influenced by Greek culture. In the Byzantine Empire, there are records of a Teria Kantakouzene, a noblewoman and philanthropist who lived in the 14th century and was renowned for her charitable works.
During the Renaissance, the name resurfaced in Italy, with Teria Gozzadini (1510-1590), a celebrated poet and patron of the arts from Bologna. Her works were highly regarded and influential in the literary circles of her time.
In the 18th century, Teria Canavese (1728-1806), an Italian painter from Turin, gained recognition for her exquisite portraits and religious scenes. Her artworks adorned numerous churches and noble residences throughout northern Italy.
Another notable figure was Teria Mbiyu (1860-1932), a Kenyan activist and leader who played a crucial role in the resistance against British colonial rule in East Africa. Her bravery and unwavering spirit inspired generations of freedom fighters in her homeland.
While the name Teria may not be as widespread today as it once was, its rich history and connections to remarkable individuals from various cultures and eras serve as a testament to the enduring legacy and potential for greatness that this name embodies.
People
Teria + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Teria 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
Teria: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Teria?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 529 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Teria 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 647,929 US residents.
Is Teria a common name?
We classify Teria as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 582 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Teria most popular?
The single biggest year for Teria was 1989, when 28 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Teria is about 45 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Teria a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Teria in the SSA data are female. 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.