Teresa is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Late Latin word 'Tertius', which means 'third'. It is believed that this name was originally given to girls born on the third day after their birth or as the third child in a family. The name Teresa has been popular throughout history and has been used by many notable figures, including Saint Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish nun who founded several monasteries and wrote extensively on matters of prayer and mysticism.
The name Teresa has also been used by many royalty and nobility throughout Europe, such as Queen Teresa I of Portugal and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. In addition to its Latin origins, the name Teresa is also popular in many other languages and cultures around the world, including Italian (Teresa), Portuguese (Teresinha), Polish (Teresa), Hungarian (Terézia) and Greek (Θηρεσία).
In literature and art, the name Teresa has been used by many famous authors and artists to create memorable characters. For example, in Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest", one of the main characters is named Miss Prism, who writes a three-volume novel titled "The Life and Adventures of the Right Honourable Lady Teresa Carlotta de travers". In music, the name Teresa has been used by many composers to title their works, such as Franz Schubert's song cycle "Die schöne Müllerin" (The Beautiful Miller Girl), which includes a poem dedicated to Teresa.
The name Teresa experienced significant growth in popularity from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Beginning with only 50 births per year in the 1880s, it reached its peak in the early 1950s with over 17,000 births recorded annually between 1952 and 1963. However, since then, Teresa's popularity has steadily declined, reaching a low of around 300 births per year in recent years (2021-2023).