How Many People Are Named Terry?
Complete statistics for the name Terry: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Terry is a classic, predominantly male name with roots as a medieval short form of Terence, meaning 'smooth' or 'tender.' About 384,241 people named Terry are living in the US today, making it 1 in 859 Americans. Its peak in 1955 with nearly 21,000 births in a single year tells you just how big this name once was.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 5 is traditionally linked to freedom, adaptability, and a restless curiosity about the world. People associated with 5 are thought to crave variety and new experiences, often thriving when they have room to explore and change course.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 66All 521,264 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1955Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Terry Through the Generations
Terry had a remarkable run, spending 32 years in the US top 10 and hitting its high point in 1955 with 20,939 births. All-time US births sit at 521,264, but only 384,241 are estimated living today, a gap that reflects how far back this name's popularity stretches. The age story is striking: 74% of all Terrys are over 60, and the over-60 group alone, at 385,374, dwarfs the under-30 group of just 15,260. The average age of 66 confirms this is very much a name of the Baby Boomer generation. Fewer than 16,000 Terrys have been born in the last three decades combined, so it's rare to meet a young Terry today. The trend is firmly declining, and while the name isn't extinct, it's fading fast with each new generation of parents.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Terry
Terry is a unisex diminutive nickname for the given names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence, Terrance (masculine).…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Terry's Latin roots
📄 About the Name Terry
How Many People Have the Name Terry?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 83,406 people in the United States currently share the name Terry. That works out to roughly 1 in every 3,974 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Terry a Common or Rare Name?
Terry is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Terry Mean?
Terry means "smooth, tender, powerful ruler" and comes from Latin origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Terry in SSA data, approximately 80% are male and 20% are female.
When Was Terry Most Popular?
The name Terry reached peak popularity in 1955, with 20,939 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Terry?
Approximately 83,406 people named Terry live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 83,406. That works out to roughly 1 in 3,974 Americans.
Is Terry a rare name?
Terry is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 3,974 Americans has this name.
What does the name Terry mean?
Terry means "smooth, tender, powerful ruler" and comes from Latin origins.
Is Terry more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 80% of people named Terry are male and 20% are female.
When was Terry most popular?
Terry peaked in 1955 with 20,939 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.