Terry

Terry - A very unique male name

Terry appeared on the charts for the first time in 1912 on position #671. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Terry and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Terry? 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 Terry. The baby boy name Terry was given to 148 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1090 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 9,907 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Terry peaked in popularity 80 years ago in 1946 on position 26.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Terry, 1-5?

Terry is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Terry is currently topping the baby name charts in Mississippi at position #460 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,391.

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 Terry is where you live.

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Terry origin and meaning

English — diminutive, root uncertain

Uncertain at the root — Terry is the traditional short form of Terence, from the Roman clan name Terentius, whose meaning is unknown; in some families it also shortens Theodoric

Terry became a full name in its own right in the mid-20th century, peaking for American boys in 1957 at more than 15,000 births a year. It has fallen ever since and now sits outside the top 1000, though the short form itself remains universally familiar.

Origin uncertain

Terry is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Terry

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

Theodore / Troy / Trey / Tyree / Tre / Tory / Tru / Torrey / Teodoro / Trae /

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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 Terry

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 Terry 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 Terry?

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

TEH-ree · /ˈtɛri/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Terence — The full name Terry traditionally shortens; a separate entry.
• Terrence — A respelling of Terence; a separate entry.
• Teri — A spelling variant, more often feminine.

Famous bearers

• Terry Crews — American actor and former NFL player (b. 1968) Contemporary
• Terry Pratchett — English author of the Discworld novels (1948–2015) Contemporary

Style

Nickname nameClassic

Why parents choose it

Terry is plain, friendly and thoroughly mid-century — a baby Terry today is named for a grandfather or for the name's unpretentious warmth, not for fashion. Its famous bearers keep it likeable despite the datedness.

Worth knowing

• Its 1957 peak makes it one of the most era-marked names in this list.
• Formally a diminutive of Terence, which will be assumed on official paperwork.