Terrell

Terrell comes from a surname related to forms such as Tyrrell and Tirrell. One explanation traces it to an Anglo-Norman nickname associated with pulling, perhaps used of a stubborn person. That interpretation concerns a historical surname’s development, not a character trait that the first name predicts for a child.

The similar opening can make Terrell look like a shortened or altered form of Terrence, but the surname route gives it a separate history. American football player Terrell Owens is a recognizable bearer. Stress and vowel sounds can differ between families using Terrell, so the spelling alone does not settle pronunciation. The established surname forms are more useful comparisons than unrelated names beginning with Ter-.