Theresa

Theresa is a form of Teresa, a name with an uncertain earliest origin. A connection with a Greek word for harvesting is traditional, but it is not the only proposed explanation. The h distinguishes this spelling without adding another meaning, and related forms have been used across Europe for centuries.

Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux are distinct historical figures who helped shape the wider name family’s religious associations. Mother Teresa provides a later connection, using another spelling of the name. Tess, Tessa, and Terry are familiar short forms. A family can choose Theresa for a relative or a saint while recognizing that the securely documented naming history is clearer than the original etymology.