UK girl's name
Tertia
A feminine given name of Latin origin meaning "the third".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Tertia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tertia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3795, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. 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.
Tertia is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Tertia. 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 1997 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Tertia ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Tertia.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tertia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3795
1996
Births in 1996
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Tertia mean?
The given name Tertia has its origins in ancient Rome, where it was derived from the Latin term "tertius," meaning "third." This name was commonly used in the Roman era as a way to denote the third-born child, particularly among aristocratic families.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Tertia can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who mentioned a woman named Tertia Aemilia, the third daughter of the Roman consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus, in his work "Ab Urbe Condita Libri" (Books from the Foundation of the City).
During the Roman Republic and Empire, the name Tertia was not uncommon among the upper classes, as it served as a means of differentiating children within large families. It was often accompanied by the family name or cognomen, such as Tertia Cornelia or Tertia Valeria.
In the early Christian era, the name Tertia gained additional significance as it was borne by several notable figures. One such individual was Saint Tertia, a virgin martyr who was reportedly executed during the reign of Emperor Decius in the 3rd century AD for her unwavering faith.
Another prominent bearer of the name Tertia was Tertia Aemilia, a Roman noblewoman who lived in the 1st century BC. She was the wife of Scipio Africanus Minor, a prominent Roman general and statesman, and was highly regarded for her virtue and devotion to her husband.
Moving forward in history, the name Tertia remained in use, albeit less frequently, during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. One notable figure from this era was Tertia de' Castellani (1500-1588), an Italian painter and miniaturist who was active in the court of the Medici family in Florence.
In the 18th century, the name Tertia was borne by Tertia Pickersgill (1735-1803), an English writer and poet who was known for her works on education and moral philosophy.
While the name Tertia has largely fallen out of common usage in modern times, it remains a part of historical records and serves as a testament to the naming traditions and cultural influences of ancient Rome.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Tertia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tertia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Tertia
- Tia 15,569
- Thea 12,888
- Tilly 11,524
- Taylor 7,401
- Tegan 6,583
- Tabitha 6,462
- Talia 5,198
- Tara 5,114
- Tiffany 4,653
- Tallulah 4,442
- Tiana 3,570
- Tamara 3,405
FAQ
Tertia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tertia in the UK right now?
In 1996, Tertia was ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Tertia most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Tertia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tertia?
A feminine given name of Latin origin meaning "the third".
How many people are called Tertia in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Tertia across the 1 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.