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Tess

Girl name · 181 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Tess: 181 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 12 births in 2007.

A short form of Theresa, Tess ultimately derives from the Greek name Therasia, likely referring to the volcanic island of Therasia or the Greek verb therizo, meaning "to harvest." It gained literary fame through Thomas Hardy's tragic heroine Tess Durbeyfield in *Tess of the d'Urbervilles* (1891). Modern bearers include television presenter Tess Daly and bestselling crime novelist Tess Gerritsen. While no major places are directly named after a Tess, the island of Therasia in the Aegean Sea shares the name's etymological root. Though traditionally a diminutive, Tess has firmly established itself as an independent first name in its own right, consistently popular in Scotland since the 1970s and often chosen for its crisp, friendly sound.