"from the island of Thera"
Origin: Greek
Language: Greek
Therese
Pronunciation: [ th-EHR-ees ]
Does Therese flow with your last name?
A French classic that smells of roses
French
German
English
Catholic
Spanish
Classic
Elegant
Sophisticated
Vintage
Spiritual
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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The Story of Therese
Thérèse is the French form of Teresa/Theresa, which derives from the Greek 'therizo' (to harvest) or possibly from the island of Thera (modern Santorini). The name gained enormous prestige through two canonized saints: Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582), a Spanish mystic and Doctor of the Church, and Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897), the beloved 'Little Flower' of France. The French spelling Thérèse carries particular elegance.
Thérèse has been a staple of French Catholic naming for centuries, reaching peaks whenever one of the saint Theresas was in the cultural spotlight. Mother Teresa's work in Calcutta renewed global interest in the name in the late 20th century, though it has since declined in usage.
In France and French-speaking countries, Thérèse is deeply associated with Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux, patron saint of missions and one of only four female Doctors of the Catholic Church. Her feast day (October 1) is widely celebrated. Mother Teresa of Calcutta took the name Thérèse at her religious profession.
Historical Record
Therese first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 23,127 babies have been named Therese in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Therese is past its peak , currently ranked #2,221 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Thérèse of Lisieux promised to 'spend her heaven doing good on earth' and send 'a shower of roses' — hence she's called 'The Little Flower'
- Mother Teresa took her religious name from Thérèse of Lisieux, not Teresa of Ávila
- Teresa of Ávila was the first woman named a Doctor of the Catholic Church, in 1970
Therese in Other Languages
French
Thérèse
German
Therese
Polish
Teresa
Italian
Teresa
Spanish
Teresa
Portuguese
Teresa
Popularity Over Time
#2,221
Current Rank
Peaked 1955
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Therese
M
Mother Teresa
Humanitarian
1910
Albanian-Indian Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity and won the Nobel Peace Prize
T
Thérèse of Lisieux
Religious
1873
French Carmelite nun, Doctor of the Church, and patron saint of missions, known as 'The Little Flower'
T
Therese Raquin Fictional
Other
Protagonist of Emile Zola's 1867 novel Thérèse Raquin, a study in passion and guilt
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2,221
- Total SSA Count
- 85
- Cultural Origins
- French German English Catholic Spanish
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Tess
Terry
Tessie
Resi
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, German heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, French heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Therese
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Therese is also used as a boy name, ranked #42486.
View Therese as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Therese
What does the name Therese mean?
"from the island of Thera" (from Greek). Thérèse is the French form of Teresa/Theresa, which derives from the Greek 'therizo' (to harvest) or possibly from the island of Thera (modern Santorini). The name gained enormous prestige through two canonized saints: Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582), a Spanish mystic and Doctor of the Church, and Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897), the beloved 'Little Flower' of France. The French spelling Thérèse carries particular elegance.
What is the origin of the name Therese?
Therese has Greek, French, German, English, Catholic, and Spanish origins. In Greek, it means "from the island of Thera".
Is Therese a boy or girl name?
Therese is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #2221. As a boy name, it is ranked #42486. Therese is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Therese?
Therese is pronounced th-EHR-ees.
How popular is the name Therese?
Therese is currently ranked #2221 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Therese?
Common nicknames for Therese include Tess, Terry, Tessie, and Resi.
What are good middle names for Therese?
Popular middle name pairings include Therese Marie, Therese Ann, Therese Louise, Therese Grace, Therese Elise, Therese Claire, and Therese Marguerite.
What are good sibling names for Therese?
Names that pair well with Therese as siblings include Cecile, Brigitte, Colette, Margot, Elise, Jean-Luc, Pierre, and Henri.
How many syllables does Therese have?
Therese has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Therese a common or rare name?
Therese is an uncommon name, ranked #2221 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Therese?
Are there other spellings for Therese?
Related spellings include Theresa.
About the Name Therese
Therese is a girl name with French, German, English, Catholic, and Spanish origins . The name means "from the island of Thera" in Greek .
Is Therese a boy or girl name? Therese is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #2,221 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #42,486. Therese is more commonly used as a girl name.
Therese is currently ranked #2,221 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Therese has 2 syllables and is pronounced th-EHR-ees, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Therese include Tess, Terry, Tessie, and Resi. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Therese include Theresa . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis