Tessa Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Tessa is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Tessa?
Tessa is spelled T-E-S-S-A. The name has 5 letters.
Tessa at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Tessa is a diminutive form of Teresa, a name commonly associated with the Greek word “therizein” meaning “to harvest.”
- Origin
- The name Tessa is commonly used as a short form of Teresa, which has Greek roots.
- Pronunciation
- TES-uh · 2 syllables
Tessa Popularity in 2025
Rank#311
Recorded Births978
- Girls usage fell 8 places to #311 and recorded 58 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Tessa Mean?
Tessa is a diminutive form of Teresa, a name commonly associated with the Greek word “therizein” meaning “to harvest.”
Origin: The name Tessa is commonly used as a short form of Teresa, which has Greek roots.
How Do You Pronounce Tessa?
PronunciationTES-uh
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Tessa?
- History
- Tessa has been used as an independent given name in modern times, especially in English-speaking countries.
Tessa Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 978 | #311 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,036 | #303 |
| 2023 | Girls | 964 | #323 |
| 2022 | Girls | 973 | #331 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,118 | #287 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,135 | #280 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,268 | #260 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,329 | #245 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,296 | #245 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,395 | #229 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,560 | #208 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,527 | #221 |
| 2013 | Girls | 1,324 | #244 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,366 | #233 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,391 | #229 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,427 | #221 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,569 | #207 |
| 2008 | Girls | 1,660 | #203 |
| 2007 | Girls | 1,753 | #190 |
| 2006 | Girls | 1,354 | #251 |
| 2005 | Girls | 1,224 | #269 |
| 2004 | Girls | 1,184 | #275 |
| 2004 | Boys | 8 | #8,143 |
| 2003 | Girls | 1,112 | #281 |
When Was Tessa Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2007 · Girls
1,753 recorded births
National rank #190
2008 · Girls
1,660 recorded births
National rank #203
2009 · Girls
1,569 recorded births
National rank #207
2015 · Girls
1,560 recorded births
National rank #208
Where Tessa Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| CT | #130 | 23 |
| AK | #134 | 5 |
| MA | #149 | 38 |
| RI | #150 | 6 |
| DC | #150 | 5 |
| DE | #167 | 5 |
| NJ | #186 | 44 |
| IL | #194 | 52 |