Surprised how underused this name is...

[Shemozzle]

Tessa.

I've always liked it when seen it on people's lists but just assumed it was very well used, as it is so normal sounding. Really surprised to find it was only given to 60 odd babies last year and is ranked 600 something. So I looked up Teresa and the various spelling diminutives and that is even less used. What do you think of it? Does it sound unusual to you?

I was almost called Tessa. I am so grateful my parents decided against it. I think it's awful!

I know two. One is short for Theresa and 65 and the other is just Tessa and 35.

I like it.

Interesting you feel there is such a difference between the two mrshathaway I do prefer Tess actually, but personally don't see much difference.

Haha! vixxfacee. I really didn't think someone could feel so strongly about it.

I thought we were going to go for Tabitha, but Tess/a is surprisingly much less common.

Shemozzle I just though it sounded like a Catherine Cookson characters name!

My 10 month old niece is Tessa-Rose. I didn't like it to begin with, especially as my dad kept saying about Tax exempt savings accounts(??) but it's grown on me and she definitely suits it. She's my little Tessie Bear

I adore Tess/a. So much so I'm thinking of using it for my next dog. I can't find a name that compares to how beautiful I find it.

I couldn't give it to a daughter I can't get past 'Tess tickles'.

My DDs classmate is a Tess... I think it's a lovely name.
I know of 3 Tabitha's born this year.

Sorry, but to me, Tessa/Tess is a name I would only expect to see for a dog.

10-ton-Tess........

My mother is called Tessa, I really like it; straightforward but not commonly used. Great to use a name that's nowhere on the popular list.

I know three. All London based.

We used to have a dog called Tess, but in a person it makes me think of "ten ton Tessie".

Tessa reminds me a bit of Nessa (Gavn and Stacey)

Also I wouldn't use it because around here (Up North) you'd often hear a very overweight woman described as a "Two Ton Tessa" and it would be just awful if she did have a weight problem in later life.

I like Teraise, the Irish Theresa.

Agree with the difference between the 3 variants.

I can also remember Ten Ton Tess but had to look up what it was (a bomb). Plus Hardy's Tess was a pretty tragic character. So, maybe it's not got great associations for some people.

A girl in DD's class is called Tessa, I like it.

Laughing at Vix's grandmother's bedsores !

I like Tess and Tessa.

I love Tessie

A relative of mine is called Tessa, as was a girl at school with me, but this is on the continent. Both late 20s/ early 30s note. Don't think I know any in the UK. Teresa is awful!!!

Lovely name. My mums dog was called Tessa!

It makes me think of Tess of the D'Urbervilles, who had such an awful tragic time of it that it's put me off the name forever.

Lots (most?) of names are cyclical in popularity.

Tessa could well be one that's on the downwards, unpopular end of the cycle at the minute and likely to start rising again in popularity before too many more years.

Love Tessa and Tess.

No idea why but I imagine Tess to have sisters Nancy and Sadie., which I also love..

Wasn't Tess a Blue Peter dog?