Theresa is a name of Latin origin, derived from the word 'thermos' meaning 'summer'. It was borne by early Christian martyrs and is often associated with Saint Theresa of Ávila, a prominent Spanish nun and mystic during the Counter-Reformation in the 16th century. In English-speaking countries, Theresa has been consistently popular throughout the 20th century, often ranking among the top 500 names for girls each year. It is often shortened to Terry or Reese as pet forms, and its variants include Teresa, Térèse, and Therese.
Theresa was quite popular in 1955 and 1957, with a slight dip in 1958 but saw another boost in popularity in 1970. Overall, there were 23 girls named Theresa born between these years.