Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Teresa.
Theresa is a girl's and boy's baby name of Greek origin, a variant spelling of Teresa, whose ultimate etymology is debated — possibly from the Greek island of Thera, or from therizein, meaning "to harvest." The spelling Theresa became more common in German and English-speaking countries.
Saint Teresa of Ávila and Mother Teresa gave both spellings extraordinary spiritual resonance. UK Prime Minister Theresa May carried the name into 21st-century political leadership. The name projects a quiet determination — steady, purposeful, and deeply compassionate regardless of the spelling chosen.