At a glance
- In short
- Terril is a spirited unisex choice with roots that twirl back to the Old French word “tirel,” loosely meaning “to pull”—a subtle nod to the name’s quiet strength.
- U.S. rank 2025
- Not in the 2025 data · last seen 2001 (#10,556)
- Babies in 2001
- 5 (<0.01% of boys)
- Peak
- #1,697 in 1945
- First recorded
- 1932
Meaning of Terril
Terril is a spirited unisex choice with roots that twirl back to the Old French word “tirel,” loosely meaning “to pull”—a subtle nod to the name’s quiet strength. Pronounced TEH-ril (/tɛrɪl/), it glides off the tongue like silk draping a Kathak dancer’s twirl. In mid-20th-century America, Terril made a modest splash—about five to eight little ones each year from 1946 to 1963—charting between ranks 657 and 784, rare enough to feel like a hidden jewel yet familiar enough to spark a knowing smile. Picture it weaving through an Indian courtyard, mingling with the scent of jasmine and masala chai, ready to bloom with every new story. Balancing heritage rhythms with modern flair, Terril stands out as a playful, resilient pick for any family seeking a name that both soothes the heart and stirs the imagination.
How to pronounce Terril
English
- Pronounced TEH-ril /tɛrɪl/
Popularity of Terril in the U.S.
Terril was last recorded in the U.S. in 2001, ranked #10,556 with 5 babies. It peaked at #1,697 in 1945. It first appears in the records in 1932.
- Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Year-by-year table, 1932–2001 59 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5 | 10,556 | back (not recorded in 1999–2000) |
| 1998 | 6 | 8,479 | ▲ 786 |
| 1997 | 5 | 9,265 | back (not recorded in 1996) |
| 1995 | 7 | 6,992 | ▲ 1,808 |
| 1994 | 5 | 8,800 | back (not recorded in 1993) |
| 1992 | 7 | 6,670 | ▼ 2,194 |
| 1991 | 12 | 4,476 | ▲ 517 |
| 1990 | 10 | 4,993 | ▼ 466 |
| 1989 | 11 | 4,527 | ▼ 365 |
| 1988 | 11 | 4,162 | ▲ 1,927 |
| 1987 | 6 | 6,089 | ▼ 163 |
| 1986 | 6 | 5,926 | ▼ 779 |
| 1985 | 7 | 5,147 | ▼ 174 |
| 1984 | 7 | 4,973 | ▼ 832 |
| 1983 | 9 | 4,141 | ▲ 1,479 |
| 1982 | 6 | 5,620 | ▼ 152 |
| 1981 | 6 | 5,468 | back (not recorded in 1980) |
| 1979 | 7 | 4,842 | ▲ 218 |
| 1978 | 6 | 5,060 | back (not recorded in 1977) |
| 1976 | 10 | 3,471 | ▲ 1,326 |
| 1975 | 6 | 4,797 | ▼ 163 |
| 1974 | 6 | 4,634 | ▼ 1,621 |
| 1973 | 11 | 3,013 | ▲ 609 |
| 1972 | 8 | 3,622 | ▲ 36 |
| 1971 | 8 | 3,658 | ▼ 376 |
| 1970 | 9 | 3,282 | ▼ 220 |
| 1969 | 9 | 3,062 | ▼ 155 |
| 1968 | 9 | 2,907 | ▼ 147 |
| 1967 | 9 | 2,760 | ▲ 24 |
| 1966 | 9 | 2,784 | ▼ 514 |
| 1965 | 13 | 2,270 | ▲ 780 |
| 1964 | 8 | 3,050 | ▲ 998 |
| 1963 | 5 | 4,048 | ▼ 15 |
| 1962 | 5 | 4,033 | ▼ 677 |
| 1961 | 7 | 3,356 | ▼ 1,041 |
| 1960 | 13 | 2,315 | ▼ 20 |
| 1959 | 13 | 2,295 | ▲ 980 |
| 1958 | 7 | 3,275 | ▼ 1,085 |
| 1957 | 14 | 2,190 | ▲ 1,345 |
| 1956 | 6 | 3,535 | ▼ 1,233 |
| 1955 | 12 | 2,302 | ▲ 640 |
| 1954 | 8 | 2,942 | ▲ 201 |
| 1953 | 7 | 3,143 | ▼ 629 |
| 1952 | 10 | 2,514 | ▲ 330 |
| 1951 | 8 | 2,844 | ▼ 264 |
| 1950 | 9 | 2,580 | ▼ 243 |
| 1949 | 11 | 2,337 | ▼ 310 |
| 1948 | 14 | 2,027 | ▲ 644 |
| 1947 | 9 | 2,671 | ▼ 858 |
| 1946 | 16 | 1,813 | ▼ 116 |
| 1945 | 16 | 1,697 | ▲ 1,165 |
| 1944 | 7 | 2,862 | ▼ 457 |
| 1943 | 10 | 2,405 | ▼ 19 |
| 1942 | 10 | 2,386 | ▼ 53 |
| 1941 | 10 | 2,333 | ▼ 350 |
| 1940 | 13 | 1,983 | back (not recorded in 1939) |
| 1938 | 8 | 2,646 | back (not recorded in 1935–1937) |
| 1934 | 5 | 3,679 | back (not recorded in 1933) |
| 1932 | 6 | 3,361 | new |
Notable people named Terril
- Terril Calder is a Canadian artist and animator whose short film Snip was named one of Canada's Top Ten films in 2016.