NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Terra

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "earth" or "land".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Terra is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Terra popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 3 births.

This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2017 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Terra. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Terra ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 3 girls were registered as Terra.
  • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Terra as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2017

3 births

Estimated living

12

2026

Meaning

What does Terra mean?

The name Terra is derived from the Latin word "terra" which means "earth" or "land". It originated in Ancient Rome, where it was used as a feminine name referring to the Earth or the land.

Terra was the Roman goddess of the earth, fertility, and nature. She was one of the most ancient and revered deities in the Roman pantheon, and her cult was celebrated during the Feriae Sementivae festival in late January and early February, which marked the beginning of the agricultural season.

The name Terra appears in various ancient Roman texts, including the writings of Ovid, Virgil, and Cicero. It is also mentioned in the Bible, where it is used to refer to the Earth or the land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Terra being used as a personal name dates back to the 4th century AD, when a Roman woman named Terra Quintilla was mentioned in an inscription.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Terra. One of the most famous was Terra Cotta, an Italian Renaissance painter and ceramist who lived from 1470 to 1519. Her innovative techniques in the production of glazed terracotta sculptures and architectural decorations earned her widespread recognition.

Another notable Terra was Terra Treml, a German writer and poet who lived from 1808 to 1892. She was a prominent figure in the Romantic movement and published several collections of poetry that celebrated nature and the beauty of the landscape.

In the 20th century, Terra Ziporyn was an American author and journalist who lived from 1920 to 2007. She wrote extensively on topics related to women's rights, social justice, and political activism.

Terra Friedrichs was a Canadian artist and sculptor who lived from 1936 to 2011. Her works, often made from natural materials like stone and wood, explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human connection to the Earth.

Another notable figure was Terra Naomi, an American singer-songwriter born in 1982. She gained popularity in the mid-2000s for her unique folk-rock sound and her innovative use of internet platforms for promoting her music.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Terra over time

The chart below shows babies named Terra registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Terra, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Terra
01223201720202024

Decades

Terra by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Terra was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5714 9 3
2010s #5765 3 1

Related

Names similar to Terra

FAQ

Terra: questions and answers

How popular is the name Terra in the UK right now?

In 2024, Terra was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Terra most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 3 babies registered as Terra in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Terra?

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "earth" or "land".

How many people are called Terra in the UK?

A total of 12 babies have been registered as Terra across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.