Terry

Meaning of Terry

Terry is often a shortened version of names like "Terence" which means "smooth." It can also mean "power of the tribe."

Terry has German roots — browse every German baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Terry

After ranking as high as #331 in 2000, Terry has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Terry

• Terry Crews
  Actor and former NFL player
• Terry Bradshaw
  Football quarterback and commentator
• Terry Gilliam
  Filmmaker and animator
• Terry McMillan
  Author of "Waiting to Exhale"
• Terry Pratchett
  Fantasy author (Discworld series)

More German names

Questions about the name Terry

What does the name Terry mean?

Terry means terry is often a shortened version of names like "terence" which means "smooth." it can also mean "power of the tribe.", and it comes from German origins.

Is Terry a boy's or a girl's name?

Terry is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Terry?

Terry did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Terry most popular?

Terry peaked at #331 in 2000.