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 like it. I have a friend with a 2 year old Tessa, it suits her!

What's so awful about Theresa?

There are loads of longer 3+ syllable names ending in a around:

Isabella
Emilia
Matilda
Dorothea

What's different about Theresa?

I know of two people called Tess. One is 4 and the other is actually called Teresa but prefers to be Tess, she is in her 30's.

I'm considering it right now. Love Tess, don't like Teresa and we have a 'sh' sound at the start of our surname so don't think that Tess 'Shxxx' would be right.

I'm slightly worried it is about to have a real leap in popularity but don't know of any Tess or Tessas IRL.

I automatically think of Ten Tonne Tessa but I think that might be an age thing.

Tessa is exactly that MrsHathaway, lumpen.

Theresa May. Enough said I think! Maggie used to be a name I liked too but couldn't use it.

All the people saying it reminds them of a dog make it more appealing to me . I think every single one of our shortlist names boys and girls would suit pets.

Dp has just come home and I suggested it and he loves it. Which is a fucking miracle! He much prefers just Tess. Whoop! Finally Another for the very short shortlist.

ThroughThickAndThin01
Oh, I love Nancy and Sadie too!!

It's a dog's name.

I know a child Tessa. Thinking about it, I'm surprised there isn't more locally, as it's certainly the type of name that fits with local taste. I like it.

I went to school with a girl who's now a pornstar. Tessa is her pornstar name

My name and I have always loved it!

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.)

Any name can be a dogs name though?!

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.

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 know 2 Tessas aged 9 and 29

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 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.

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

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

So clearly we like it!

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

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