Terence is a masculine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

, derived from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

name Terentius. The

diminutive A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to belittle s ...

form is

Terry Terry is a unisex diminutive nickname for the given names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence (given name), Terence, Terrance (masculine). People Male * Terry A. Canales, American politician * Terry A. Doughty (born 1959), American district ...

. Spelling variants include Terrence, Terrance, Terance and (in Scotland) Torrance.

Notable people with this name

Terence Publius Terentius Afer (; – ), better known in English as Terence (), was a playwright during the Roman Republic. He was the author of six Roman comedy, comedies based on Greek comedy, Greek originals by Menander or Apollodorus of Carystus. A ...

(c. 195/185 – c. 159 BC), Latin playwright * Saint Terence, several people *

Geezer Butler Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler (born 17 July 1949) is an English musician, best known as the bassist and primary lyricist of the pioneering Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He has also recorded and performed with Heave ...

(born Terence Butler in 1949), British musician of

Black Sabbath Black Sabbath are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969 (the band ...

fame *

Terry Callier Terrence Orlando "Terry" Callier (May 24, 1945 – October 27, 2012) was an American soul music, soul, Folk music, folk and jazz guitarist and singer-songwriter. Life and career Callier was born in the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and was ...

(1945–2012), American jazz and folk singer and guitarist * Terence Chang, Hong Kong and American film producer *

Terence Crawford Terence Allan Crawford (born September 28, 1987) is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple quadruple champion#Boxing, world championships in four weight classes, from lightweight to light middleweight, including the undisputed cha ...

(born 1987), American boxer *

Terence Trent D'Arby Sananda Francesco Maitreya (born Terence Trent Howard; March 15, 1962), who started his career with the stage name Terence Trent D'Arby, is an American singer and songwriter who came to fame with his debut studio album, '' Introducing the Hard ...

(born 1962), American singer and songwriter * Terry A. Davis (1969–2018), American programmer, developer of TempleOS * Terence Davies (1945–2023), English film director and screenwriter * Terrence Deyalsingh, Trinidad and Tobago politician * Terence Dials (b. 1983), American basketball player *

Terry Fox Terrance Stanley Fox (July 28, 1958June 28, 1981) was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist. In 1980, having had one leg amputated due to cancer, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for can ...

(1958–1981), Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist * Terence Garvin (b. 1991), American football player * Terrence Giddy, known as Terry Giddy (1950–2023), Australian Paralympic athlete * Torry Gillick (1915–1971), Scottish footballer *

Terence Hill Terence Hill (born Mario Girotti; 29 March 1939) is an Italian actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He began his career as a child actor and gained international fame for starring roles in action and comedy films, many with hi ...

, Italian actor * Terrence Hodson (died 2004), Australian murder victim *

Terrence Howard Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an American actor performing on film and television. He has received a Screen Actors Guild Awards, Screen Actors Guild Award as well as nominations for an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a Golden ...

, American actor and singer * Terrence Hughes, American professional wrestler *

Terrence Jenkins Terrence Jenkins (born April 21, 1982) is an American actor, television presenter, model and Entertainment journalism, entertainment reporter best known as the host of BET's popular music video countdown show ''106 & Park'' from 2006 until 2012. ...

, American actor, TV personality, and model * Terence Kelly, many people *

Terry Labonte Terrance Lee Labonte (born November 16, 1956), nicknamed "Texas Terry" or "the Iceman", is an American former stock car racing, stock car driver. He raced from 1978 to 2014 in the former NASCAR Winston Cup and Sprint Cup Series (now called the NAS ...

(born 1956), American race car driver * Terence Lam (born 1991), Hong Kong composer, singer-songwriter, and record producer * Terrence Magee, American football player * Terrence Malick, American filmmaker * Terence MacSwiney (1879–1920), Lord Mayor of Cork who died on hunger strike during the Irish War of Independence * Terry McAuliffe, American politician and businessman * Terence McKenna, American writer and philosopher * Terence McKenna (film producer), Canadian film producer * Terence Millin (1903–1980), Irish surgeon * Terence Morris (born 1979), NBA and Israel Basketball Premier League basketball player *

Terence Newman Terence Newman (born September 4, 1978) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a cornerback for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, and Minnesota Vik ...

, American football player * Terence O'Loghlin (1764–1843), Irish soldier of the British Army *

Terence O'Neill Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, Privy Council of Northern Ireland, PC (NI) (10 September 1914 – 12 June 1990), was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader (1963–1969) of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). ...

, Ulster Unionist politician, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland * Terence Parkin, deaf South African swimmer and the most decorated Deaflympic athlete in history *

Terry Pratchett Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English author, humorist, and Satire, satirist, best known for the ''Discworld'' series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983 and 2015, and for the Apocalyp ...

(1948–2015), English author * Terence Ranger, (1929–2015) British historian of Africa * Terence Rattigan (1911–1977), British dramatist * Terrence Romeo (born 1992), Filipino basketball player *

Terence Sanders Terence Robert Beaumont Sanders (2 June 1901 – 6 April 1985) was a British rower who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics, a lecturer in engineering at Cambridge, an army officer engaged in countering the V2 threat, civil servant and High Sher ...

(1901–1985), British rower * Terrence Shannon Jr. (born 2000), American basketball player *

Terence Siufay Terence Siufay (born 13 July 1976, in Macau) is a Macanese singer and actor. who has been with the group C-Plus for the past 10 years in Macau. In 2007, he joined Gold Typhoon in Hong Kong. He got the new male singer bronze award from JSG 07 and ...

(born 1976), Macanese singer and actor * Terence Smith (disambiguation), several people *

Terence Stamp Terence Henry Stamp (born 22 July 1938) is an English actor. Known for his sophisticated villain roles, he was named by ''Empire (magazine), Empire'' as one of the 100 Sexiest Film Stars of All Time in 1995. He has received various accolades in ...

(born 1938), British actor * Terence Steele (born 1997), American football player * Terence Tao (born 1975), Australian mathematician, winner of a Fields Medal * Terrence Trammell (born 1978), American track and field athlete * Terence Tse, educator, speaker, advisor and commentator * Terrence Watson (born 1987), American-Israeli basketball player * Terrence Wilcutt, American astronaut *

Terence Winter Terence Patrick Winter (born October 2, 1960) is an American writer and producer of television and film. He was the creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO television series '' Boardwalk Empire'' (2010–2014). Before creating ''Boar ...

, American television and film writer * Terence Wilson, also known as Astro, former British singer and member of British band

UB40 UB40 are an English reggae band, formed in December 1978 in Birmingham, England. The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart and has also achieved considerable international success. They have been nominated for the Grammy ...

* Terence Yin (born 1975), Hong Kong film actor, singer, producer, and media relations specialist * Terence Young (director), British film director * Terence Young (politician) (born 1952), Canadian politician * Terence Yung, American classical pianist

Fictional characters

* Terence or Terrence (Terry) Granchester (or Grandchester), male character in '' Candy Candy'' (manga, anime and Final Story) * Terence the Tractor in ''

The Railway Series ''The Railway Series'' is a series of British books about a railway known as the North Western Railway, located on the fictional Sodor (fictional island), Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first published in May 1945 by Wi ...

'' and '' Thomas and Friends'' * Terence, the large red bird from the '' Angry Birds'' video game series * Terence, a pixie dust sparrow-man from '' Disney Fairies'' * Terence, a bath toy crocodile in ''

Rubbadubbers ''Rubbadubbers'' is a British stop-motion children's television series produced by HIT Entertainment, with animation production by Hot Animation. The series was broadcast in the UK on BBC2 and CBeebies from 2 September 2002 to 14 February 2005. ...

'' * Terence (Terry) Morris, a character in the '' X-Files'' TV series, episodes "Dreamland" and "Dreamland II" * Terence Fletcher, the main antagonist of the 2014 film '' Whiplash'' * Sir Terrance Henry Stoot, one half of Terrance and Phillip, a duo of characters in the animated TV series, ''

South Park ''South Park'' is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and developed by Brian Graden for Comedy Central. The series revolves around four boysStan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormickand the ...

'' * Terrence (Terry) McGinnis, the main character of ''

Batman Beyond ''Batman Beyond'' (also known as ''Batman of the Future'' in Europe) is an American superhero animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, and serving as the sequel to both '' Batman: The Animated Series'' and '' The New Ba ...

'' * Terrence, Mac's older brother, in '' Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends''

Notable people with this name

Fictional characters

See also