Terrell

Terrell - A very unique male name

Terrell appeared on the charts for the first time in 1912 on position #616. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Terrell and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Terrell? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Terrell. The baby boy name Terrell was given to 82 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1393 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 17,882 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Terrell peaked in popularity 41 years ago in 1985 on position 253.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Terrell, 1-5?

Terrell is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Terrell is currently topping the baby name charts in Michigan at position #708 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,182.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Terrell is where you live.

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Terrell origin and meaning

Transferred surname, origin uncertain

Uncertain — Terrell is a surname (a variant of Tyrrell, a Norman name from a place in France) whose own root meaning is not established

Terrell moved from the Norman-derived surname Tyrrell/Terrell into American first-name use, peaking in 1989 in the surname-name era. It has declined since but keeps strong associations with American football.

Origin uncertain

Terrell is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Terrell, pop culture references for the name Terrell and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Terrell

We've found the following names that sound similar to Terrell, sorted by popularity.

Tyrell / Tyrel / Terrill / Terell / Terrel / Tyrelle / Tarell / Tarrell / Tirrell / Tyrrell /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Terrell

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Terrell a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Terrell?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

tuh-REL · /təˈrɛl/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Terell — A one-l respelling.
• Tyrell — The related surname name with a different first syllable.
• Terrill — Another spelling of the surname.

Famous bearers

• Terrell Owens — Hall of Fame NFL wide receiver (b. 1973) Contemporary
• Terrell Davis — Hall of Fame NFL running back with the Denver Broncos (b. 1972) Contemporary

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Terrell is a strong, athletic surname name from the 1980s-90s that now feels established rather than current.