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Theresa

Girl name · 504 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Theresa: 504 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 43 births in 1977.

Theresa is the German and English form of the Spanish and Portuguese name Teresa, whose ultimate origin is uncertain but is most often linked to the Greek *therizein*, meaning "to harvest." The name was popularised across Europe by the formidable 16th-century Spanish saint, Teresa of Ávila, a mystic and reformer of the Carmelite order. In the 20th century, Mother Teresa of Calcutta became a global symbol of compassion, her name synonymous with selfless charity. The name also belongs to Theresa May, the UK's second female Prime Minister. The spelling Teresa is a common variant, while the name's popularity in Scotland has been steady, with a notable peak in the 1960s.