Terry: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “ruler of the people”
- Origin
- English
- Say it
- TER-ee · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Boys (81% of all uses)
Usually a diminutive of ტერెనซ์/Terence, Teresa, or especially the surname and given name Terry from medieval forms of Theodoric/Thierry in some cases. As an English given name, it often represents a short form; meanings vary by source name. The origin of this name is not settled among etymologists.
How popular is Terry?
Babies named Terry in 2024184
2024 rank#1,185 boys
Peak year1955
Total US babies since 1880521,274
Terry is fading: recent use is about 50% of its level ten years before.
Names like Terry
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Terry questions
What does the name Terry mean?
Terry means "ruler of the people". It comes from English. Usually a diminutive of ტერెనซ์/Terence, Teresa, or especially the surname and given name Terry from medieval forms of Theodoric/Thierry in some cases. As an English given name, it often represents a short form; meanings vary by source name.
Is Terry a boy or girl name?
Terry is mainly a boy's name in US records (81% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Terry?
184 US babies were named Terry in 2024. Its peak year was 1955.
How do you pronounce Terry?
Terry is usually pronounced TER-ee.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.