Tessa is a distinctive choice, ranked #708 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Tessa in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#708
US Rank #303
About the Name Tessa
Tessa has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 119 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #410 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Tessa is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #303, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Tessa
Unlikely. With around 53 UK babies named Tessa per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Tessa in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Tessa has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 119 places in the last five years. Its peak was #410 in 1996. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.
Tessa is more popular in the US (#303) than in the UK (#708). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Tessa include: Tessa Niles — Tessa Margaret Niles is an English singer, best known as a backing singer for a wide variety of contemporary artists.; Tessa Fowler — Tessa Fowler is a Vanuatuan former politician.; Tessa Ía — Tessa Ía González Norvind, known as Tessa Ía, is a Mexican actress best known for her starring role in After Lucia..
Tessa appears in the US top 500 at #303 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
53
UK babies named Tessa (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 119 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Tessa
Likely around 1 other Tessa in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Tessa
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Tessa Margaret Niles is an English singer, best known as a backing singer for a wide variety of contemporary artists. She began her professional singing career in 1979.
Tessa Ía González Norvind, known as Tessa Ía, is a Mexican actress best known for her starring role in After Lucia. Through her mother she belongs to the Norwegian-Mexican Norvind family of actors.
Tessa Jane Helen Douglas Jowell, Baroness Jowell, was a British Labour Party politician and life peer who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dulwich and West Norwood, previously Dulwich, from 1992 to 2015. Jowell held a number of major government ministerial positions, as well as opposition appointments, during this period.
Tessa Jane McCormick Virtue is a Canadian retired ice dancer. With ice dance partner Scott Moir, she is the 2010 and 2018 Olympic champion, the 2014 Olympic silver medallist, a three-time World champion, a three-time Four Continents champion, the 2016–17 Grand Prix Final champion, an eight-time Canadian National champion, the 2006 World Junior champion and the 2006 Junior Grand Prix gold medallists.
Tessa Blanchard is an American professional wrestler. She is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where she is a former TNA World Champion, and a former TNA Knockouts Champion.