Therisa
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "harvester".
Name Census estimates that about 260 living Americans carry the first name Therisa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Therisa today is around 62 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Therisa births was 1963 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Therisa. 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
260
~ 1 in 1,318,286 Americans
Peak year
1963
18 babies that year
Average age
62
years old
1993 SSA rank
#11,703
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Therisa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Therisa from the 1910s through to the 1990s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 134 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Therisa 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 Therisa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Therisa
The name Therisa is believed to have originated from the Greek language, derived from the word "Thera," which means "heat" or "summer." This name was particularly prevalent during the classical Greek era, around the 5th century BCE.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Therisa can be found in ancient Greek literature, where it was often associated with deities or mythological figures related to the sun or warmth. It is speculated that the name may have been given to children born during the summer months or as a way to honor the gods of the sun.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Therisa. One of the most renowned was Therisa of Argos, a renowned poet and philosopher who lived in the 3rd century BCE. Her works, though largely lost, were praised for their profound insights and lyrical beauty.
In the 2nd century CE, Therisa of Corinth gained recognition as a skilled physician and herbalist. Her contributions to the field of medicine were significant, and she was revered for her dedication to healing the sick and advancing medical knowledge.
During the Byzantine era, Therisa Palaiologina (1240-1300) was a prominent figure in the imperial court of Constantinople. She was known for her intelligence, political acumen, and her patronage of the arts and sciences.
In the Renaissance period, Therisa Guicciardini (1478-1541) was an Italian noblewoman and poet. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, and she was celebrated for her poetic talents among the literary circles of her time.
Another notable figure was Therisa von Thurn und Taxis (1589-1644), a German countess and landowner. She played a significant role in the development of the postal system in Europe and was renowned for her business acumen and leadership skills.
While the name Therisa may not be as common in modern times, its Greek origins and historical significance have left an indelible mark on the annals of various cultures and civilizations throughout the ages.
People
Therisa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Therisa 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
Therisa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Therisa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 260 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Therisa 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 1,318,286 US residents.
Is Therisa a common name?
We classify Therisa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 352 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Therisa most popular?
The single biggest year for Therisa was 1963, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Therisa is about 62 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Therisa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Therisa 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.