Tess is a girl's name of Literary origin meaning “Tess Durbeyfield is the tragic heroine of Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles', symbolizing purity and victimization..” With 1 syllable, it is short and easy to say. As of 2026, Tess ranks #837 among girls' names in the United States and has held a steady level of popularity. Its highest US ranking was #284 in 1889.
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TES
Phonetic spelling
Currently #837 among US baby names.
* Based on US Social Security Administration birth-registration data
Tess means “Tess Durbeyfield is the tragic heroine of Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles', symbolizing purity and victimization..” It is a girl's name of Literary origin.
Tess is pronounced TES.
Tess is most commonly used as a girl's name.
Tess currently ranks #837 among girls' names in the United States.
Middle names that pair well with Tess include Tess Claire, Tess Ann.
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“Georgiana Darcy, the sister of Mr. Darcy in 'Pride and Prejudice', is elegant and shy.”
“Josephine 'Jo' March is the strong-willed protagonist of 'Little Women', representing independence and creativity.”
“The innocent daughter of Prospero in 'The Tempest', representing purity and wonder.”
“A lesser-known character from 'Mansfield Park', representing a unique and vintage charm.”
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