Names › Girls' names › T › Tessa

Tessa

Meaning: diminutive of Theresa · Origin: Greek (via English) · Gender: usually a girl's name

Origin & history

An English pet form of Teresa/Theresa, a name of uncertain origin sometimes linked to 'harvest'.

Famous people named Tessa

Tessa Thompson (actor)
Tessa Virtue (ice dancer)

Nicknames

Tess

Variants & related names

Tess, Theresa, Teresa

Tessa name art

A free preview of a printable “Tessa” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Tessa mean?

Tessa means “diminutive of Theresa”. It comes from Greek (via English).

Is Tessa a popular name?

Yes — Tessa has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Tessa?

Tess.

What are other forms of Tessa?

Tess, Theresa, Teresa.

Similar names

Kate · Nicole · Alexis · Sophia · Chloe · Zoe

More: names starting with T · all girls' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.