Tess

Tess is a female first name that is regarded as an English short and pet form of Theresa, Therese, or Teresa. These names all derive from the Ancient Greek Therasia (Θηρεσία). The meaning of the name includes "the one from Thera," "the huntress," "the game animal," "the wild one," "the harvest worker," and "the summer."

What does the name Tess mean?

The name Tess is an English short and pet form of Theresa, Therese, and Teresa, whose origins can be found in the Ancient Greek Therasia (Θηρεσία). It is translated as "the one from Thera," "the huntress," "the game animal," "the wild one," "the harvest worker," and "the summer." The exact origin of Tess is unclear, but the roots lead back to Ancient Greek, likely to the word Thḗrā (Θήρᾱ), which refers to the Aegean island of Thira, now called Santorini. It may also be connected to the terms thēráō (θηράω) for "to hunt," thēríon (θηρίον) for "the animal, the wild animal, the game animal," therízo (θερίζω) for "to harvest, to mow," or théros (θέρος) for "summer." The name gained recognition through the veneration of Saint Therasia of Nola, who married Saint Paulinus of Nola and is considered the first bearer of the name. Other variants include Tessa, Tessi, Tessie, Tessia, Tessina, Tessje, and Tessy. The name became popular through the novel "Tess of the D'urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy.

Where does the name Tess come from?

The name Tess has its roots in Ancient Greek and means "the one from Thera" or "the huntress."

How do you pronounce Tess?

The pronunciation of Tess is one syllable and concise. In German, the name is usually pronounced as "Tess" [tɛs], giving it a clear and direct sound. The short vowel combined with the hissing "-ss" provides a distinctive finish. Tess sounds modern, straightforward, and confident – small but expressive.

When is the name day of Tess?

The name days for Tess are July 13, August 9, August 26, October 1, and October 15.

Popularity

In Germany, Tess enjoys great popularity and currently ranks 1,921st in the list of the most common female first names. The name reached its best placement in 2013 at rank 1,117. Over the last ten years, Tess has been used as a first name about 150 times, placing it 1,906th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, Tess ranks 1,823rd. Tess also has a certain popularity internationally.

Nicknames & pet names

Tesschen / Tessi / Tessibessi / Tessilein / Test

Similar first names

Famous people

• Anja Sofia Tess Pärson (Swedish alpine ski racer)
• Osonye Tess Onwueme (Nigerian writer)
• Tess (Teresa) McLeod (from the TV series McLeod's Daughters)
• Tess Arbez (British alpine ski racer)
• Tess Brady (Australian writer)
• Tess Brunet (American musician)
• Tess Danesi (American writer)
• Tess Gaerthe (Dutch actress)
• Tess Gardella (Italian actress)
• Tess Gerritsen (writer)
• Tess Harper (American actress)
• Tess Jaray (painter)
• Tess Madgen (Australian basketball player)
• Tess Mallos (Australian writer)
• Tess Mattisson (singer from Sweden)
• Tess Merkel (singer from Sweden)
• Tess Morgan (character from the series 'The Flash')
• Tess Sugnaux (Swiss tennis player)
• Tess Taylor (American model)
• Tess Uriza Holthe (American writer)