Terence

Terence is a masculine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman nomen Terentius. The most famous bearer is the Classical playwright Publius Terentius Afer, known in English as Terence, whose comedies were influential in ancient and medieval European drama. The English form Terence entered through Latin and French adaptations of his name, and the name has been used in various Western languages since antiquity. The meaning of the root Terentius is uncertain, and the name does not have a single agreed-upon meaning.

In English-speaking countries, Terence has remained a recognizable but relatively moderate given name. It is commonly shortened to Terry, a diminutive that has circulated widely since the 19th century. Variants and related forms appear in different languages, but Terence itself is most often used in its established English form.

Notable people named Terence include Terence Tao (born 1975), an Australian–American mathematician and Fields Medalist; Terence McKenna (1946–2000), an American ethnobotanist and writer; Terence Stamp (born 1938), a British actor known for a range of stage and screen roles; Terence Conran (1931–2020), a British designer, restaurateur, and businessman; Terence Rattigan (1911–1977), an English playwright; Terence Blanchard (born 1962), an American jazz trumpeter and film composer; Terence Trent D'Arby (born 1962), an American singer and musician; and Terence O’Neill (1914–1990), Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from 1963 to 1969.