Teresa
/təˈriːzə/noun
A feminine given name traditionally associated with the Spanish and Portuguese forms of Theresa.
Did you know?The name’s earliest source is uncertain: Teresa is generally traced through Spanish and Portuguese Teresa to the Greek name Therasia, but scholars disagree about what Therasia originally meant.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Therasia (Θηρασία)
“An ancient feminine personal name and the name of an island near Thera; its deeper meaning is uncertain.”
Classical Antiquity
Greek
Thera (Θήρα)
“The ancient name of the Aegean island now called Santorini; it may be connected with Therasia, though the relationship is not certain.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Therasia
“The name preserved in Latin Christian and ecclesiastical records.”
Medieval Period
Old Spanish
Teresa
“The Spanish form of the personal name, developing through medieval Romance usage.”
Medieval Period
Portuguese
Teresa
“The Portuguese form of the name, later spread widely through Christian Europe.”
Modern English
English
Teresa
“A feminine given name, especially associated with Saint Teresa of Ávila and Mother Teresa.”