Tell me about TESSA...

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2005
Tell me about TESSA...
5
Fri, 06-02-2006 - 12:59pm
I've seen this here and there and am not sure how I feel about it. Where did this name come from? Is it a newer name or an older name? If I had to guess I would say a "new" old name - maybe what used to be a nickname for an older name (Contessa??) and has now made its mark on its own.
Just trying to get a feel for it...
Sue
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2006
Fri, 06-02-2006 - 1:13pm
It very well could be a NN for Contessa or something similar. That makes sense to me. The name Tessa by itself is relatively new. Goes back to the 60's I think. I think it's a pretty name by itself or as a NN.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Fri, 06-02-2006 - 1:29pm

Tessa is a shortened form of Theresa/Teresa (although I'm sure it's also been used as a nn for names such as Contessa). A very sweet name with an old-fashioned feel. ;)

HTH

~Kelli


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Avatar for haarlasr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 06-02-2006 - 3:02pm

Yep! I had a friend in high school named Theresa who occasionally went by Tess.

Stephanie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Fri, 06-02-2006 - 6:28pm
Although it's been used as a nn for Theresa and Contessa for a long time, I'm pretty sure Tess(a) is an old name with its own origin. It comes from the Greek word for 4 (sounds roughly like tessera) and means fourth or fourth born. It's so pretty, and a favorite of mine. I think it works really well on its own or as a nn for Theresa.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Fri, 06-02-2006 - 6:56pm

Allie's right ... I have seen the "fourth" or "fourth-born" meaning as well, but it's really hard to find (Behind the Name only lists it as a form of Theresa). I only found the other meaning when we were looking for something that specifically meant "fourth" to sort of honor the third child we lost (making Abigail, technically, our fourth pregnancy/child).

~Kelli


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