Terryl
Primarily a boy's name of Greek origin with 740 recorded births. Also given to 717 girls.
Meaning & Origin
Terryl peaked during the Baby Boom, when 26 babies received this name in a single year (1960). That era was defined by classic, post-war American naming, and Terryl has since stepped out of the spotlight, giving it a vintage quality that many parents now find appealing.
Terryl is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Terryl is a boy's and girl's baby name of Greek origin, a variant spelling of Terry or Terrel — pet forms of Terrence, from the Latin Terentius — or a creative variant with the -yl ending found in Beryl, Meryl, and Daryl. The -yl ending gives the name a slightly literary, artistic quality.
Terryl's unusual -yl ending distinguishes it from the conventional Terry while preserving the same warm, approachable sound. It appeared in mid-twentieth-century American records as a deliberately individualized form of this popular name.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Terryl belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Greek naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Greek names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Terryl’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Terryl has 64+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1938.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21 | #10876 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 80 | #7343 | — |
| 1980s | 84 | #4912 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 96 | #3894 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 149 | #2350 | — |
| 1950s | 160 | #2090 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 138 | #2426 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 12 | #3534 | — |
The Story of Terryl
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1960, Terryl is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Terryl are most likely born between 1950 and 1970.
How rare is Terryl?
With 740 total births on record, Terryl remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1938, peaked in the 1950s with 160 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Terryl by the numbers
- Would fill 15 school buses
- Meeting one Terryl per day would take 2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(64 years, 1938–2008)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 6 | #12387 |
| 2007 | 10 | #8102 |
| 2001 | 5 | #12140 |
| 1999 | 9 | #7059 |
| 1998 | 6 | #9526 |
| 1997 | 9 | #6561 |
| 1996 | 6 | #8897 |
| 1995 | 5 | #10175 |
| 1994 | 9 | #6312 |
| 1993 | 7 | #7542 |
| 1992 | 13 | #4543 |
| 1991 | 8 | #6454 |
| 1990 | 8 | #6358 |
| 1989 | 9 | #5556 |
| 1988 | 8 | #5698 |
| 1987 | 8 | #5410 |
| 1986 | 13 | #3630 |
| 1985 | 13 | #3578 |
| 1983 | 10 | #4113 |
| 1982 | 9 | #4552 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Terryl as a Girl's Name
Terryl is a true unisex name. As a girl's name, it has 717 recorded births since 1935.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terryl a boy's or girl's name?
When was Terryl most popular?
How popular is the name Terryl?
Can Terryl be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1938–2008