Tess

Tess is a girl's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 113 girls in the United States.

Tess at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references

About the name Tess

Tess belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Tess first appears in Social Security records in 1889. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #467 in 1992, and in 2024 113 babies received the name — 14,653 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Tess in US records

First recorded (US)
1889
Best US rank
#467 in 1992
Peak year
1992
Babies named Tess in 2024
113
Total since 1880
14,653

Tess in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1996
Best rank
#423 in 2005
Babies named Tess in 2025
10
Total since 1996
1,496

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Tess mean?

The meaning of Tess is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Tess a boy or girl name?

Tess is a girl name. In 2024, 113 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Tess?

Tess comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Tess?

Tess first appears in US records in 1889. Its best-ever ranking was #467 in 1992, and 113 babies were given the name in 2024.

This profile is built from the US Social Security Administration's public baby-names data — see the source. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check. If you spot an error, write to [email protected].