Surprised how underused this name is...

I like Tess a lot. Doesn't make me think of dogs at all. And it's not one of those cutesy names that totally fails once they get past 12 hate those

It's fine. That's the best I can say about it.

It's the sort of name that probably makes a fair few short-lists, but very rarely the chosen name.

Don't wobble on Tess/Tessa, it is as you say, classic, not common, strong yet feminine. I think it's beautiful. All the comments about dog's names apply to so many classic and lovely baby names!

Just because me & a few unknown strangers are not keen on Tessa, does not mean you can't use it as a name. If you love it - choose it! If I had put my DCs name choices on here I would have got a mix of likes/dislikes. Thankfully I did not!

If you love the name, use it.

DD2's name is that of an Irish nun, in my opinion (Theresa Margaret), but Tess was the only name DH and I could agree on and Margaret for a middle name was non-negotiable for various family reasons. And actually I love her name.

Don't get too hung up on the the opinions of a load of strangers online for the name of a child they're unlikely to ever meet. That way madness lies!

i know a 20 year old, a nine year old and a couple of toddler Tess's / Tessa's.

I always think 'ten tonne Tessa' though.

kmini I posted up thread saying I like the name, but I would try not to get hung up on mn opinions of names. My 3 dcs names have been slated on here, even though they're fairly normal inoffensive names - think Matthew, max, William, Charlotte, Sophia type names. You honestly can't win as somebody will hate classic names, somebody will hate modern names etc.

If you love the name, that's what's important. I was gutted when I read a thread slating dc1's name, but have seen enough of these threads now to not let it bother me. There are some names that are not to my taste either, so stands to reason some people will dislike my own ('boring / too popular'!) choice.

Gutted by all the negative comments .

We've just found this week that we are pregnant and my DH and I have always loved Tessa, to be called Tess. We've always liked that it was classic without being common. Seemed strong but still feminine to me.

Making me have a massive wobble! Sigh!

I love Teresa, but am not so keen on Tessa.

I loooove Tess. Weirdly not so keen on Tessa though although did go to school with one. She never got Tess though.

I love the name Tessa, with Tess for day to day. To me it is an underused classic.

Every Tessa/Tess I know has been an intelligent, strong woman, from posh-ish backgrounds.

So sorry but to me Tessa is a bit limp. Prefer Tess but not overly keen. The only Theresa I know is 15 and a whingy pita.

I know this is just my opinion and each to their own etc.... but it's awful.....,,

I am a Tessa. Tess for short. I rarely meet any others but met a 4 year old Tess a couple of months ago.

Didn't like it as a kid but def do as a grownup!

I love Tess / Tessa and they were on the shortlist for my DD. It could be short for Esther rather than Teresa.

Ten ton Tessie
Tess of the durbervilles
The character from Suburgatory

All madly different things that come to mind. For me, it's a bit, well, forgettable. Nice but bland, somehow not quite substantial enough to be a real full name.

Where I come from, Theresa, in its various spellings, is always pronounced as two syllables, a sort of tree-sah so is more similar to Tessa into my ear than the English ter-ee-sah.

I have a 6 month old Theresa (known as Tess/Tessa/Tessie-tots).

So clearly we like it!

I know a 26 year old Tessa, and a dog named Tess.

I read a book years ago by an Irish author, the main protagonist was called Tossa. I always wondered if that was an actual name or whether it was supposed to be Tessa.

Tessa is quite nice as a name. Tessie isn't though, it's along the same lines as Bertha, a sort of "lumpen" name. In my mind anyway. I imagine if I met a little Tessie I'd not think that at all! I know a Theresa but she's just Theresa, it's not shortened.

There was a girl a few years younger than me who lived in my village called Tessa. She is of Mediterranean heritage and had long , dark, curly hair. She was a lovely sweet girl who has grown up to be a beautiful woman and when I hear the name Tessa I think of her.

I know 2 Tessas aged 9 and 29

I love the name Tess, more than Tessa.
Lots of dogs have people names. Living by me now are :
Grace
Jessie
Frankie
Emma
Poppy
Lucy
... And that is just a few of them ! 😄

I think it may be a name that will become popular in the near future. It has not been quite long enough since it was popular. Names like Daisy and May ( my late grandmothers names) are coming back now. I agree with a PP (Hrafnkel?) that the Tessa's I know are lovely and over 40 (actually over 50) as are most of the Tess and Teresa's. I love both Tess and Tessa.

Any name can be a dogs name though?!

I think it's a beautiful name but I couldn't personally use it due to my lengthy and complex feelings on Tess of the D'Urbevilles.

(Spoiler: I kind of hate it but I like Tess but I hate Hardy - repeat until insane.)