Therese

Pronunciation: [ th-EHR-ees ]

Girl Name #2,221 Most Popular Hidden Gem 2 Syllables

A French classic that smells of roses

French German English Catholic Spanish

Classic Elegant Sophisticated Vintage Spiritual

Meaning & Origin

"from the island of Thera"

Origin: Greek

Language: Greek

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.

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

Famous People Named Therese

Mother Teresa

Humanitarian

1910

Albanian-Indian Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity and won the Nobel Peace Prize

Thérèse of Lisieux

Religious

1873

French Carmelite nun, Doctor of the Church, and patron saint of missions, known as 'The Little Flower'

Therese Raquin Fictional

Other

Protagonist of Emile Zola's 1867 novel Thérèse Raquin, a study in passion and guilt

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

Theresa #1501

Common Nicknames

Tess Terry Tessie Resi

Pairs Well With

Therese Marie Therese Ann Therese Louise Therese Grace Therese Elise Therese Claire Therese Marguerite

Sibling Names

Cecile Brigitte Colette Margot Elise Jean-Luc Pierre Henri

Also a Boy Name

Therese is also used as a boy name, ranked #42486.

View Therese as a boy name →

Similar Names

Theresa Teresa

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

Can't decide?

Start a tournament bracket with Therese and other names you're considering.

Start a Tournament

Like this name?

Check how Therese sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.

Analyze This Name

Browse more girl names →

Explore More Generators

🧝 Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
🐾 Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
🎭 Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres

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.

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.