Terrence is a masculine given name of Latin origin. It is derived from the Roman family name Terentius, which is believed to have been taken from the Etruscan city of Tuscany in Italy. The name Terentius was traditionally associated with the ancient Roman gens Terentia, one of the oldest and most prestigious patrician families in Rome.
The meaning of the name Terrence is commonly interpreted as "smooth" or "fluent," although some sources suggest it may also mean "from Tuscany" or "of Etruscan origin." Throughout history, the name has been borne by several notable figures. For instance, Publius Terentius Afer, better known simply as Terence, was a prominent Roman playwright of the Republican period.
Despite its ancient roots, Terrence remains a relatively uncommon given name today. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it has consistently ranked among the least popular boy names since records began being kept in 1900. Nevertheless, Terrence continues to be used as a given name and is sometimes chosen for its unique sound and historical significance.
In literature and media, Terrence has been used as a character name on occasion. For example, it appears in works such as "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde and the television series "Breaking Bad." However, overall, the name's use remains relatively sparse compared to more popular choices.
The name Terrence has been given to babies born in the United States for over a century, with the first recorded birth being in 1886 and the most recent in 2023.
Between 1886 and 1959, there were fluctuations in the number of births each year, ranging from a low of 5 to a high of 444. However, starting in 1954, the popularity of the name Terrence began to grow significantly. In that year, there were 1440 babies named Terrence, marking the beginning of a decade where the number of births with this name consistently exceeded 1000 each year.
The peak of Terrence's popularity came in 1964, with 1271 births recorded that year. This was followed by a period of relative stability, with the number of births remaining above 1000 until 1975. After this point, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily.
Despite the decrease in popularity, Terrence remained a common name throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Between 1986 and 2023, there were at least 491 births each year, with the lowest point occurring in 2023 with 134 births.
In total, over the course of these 137 years, there have been 72,184 babies named Terrence born in the United States. This demonstrates that while trends may come and go, the name Terrence has maintained a consistent presence among American parents choosing names for their newborns.