Ma Teresa
beloved/bitter (Hebrew) + harvester or late summer (Greek)
Ma Teresa is a spanish / biblical girl name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 428, with 19,109 records. It has 4 syllables.
Origin and meaning
beloved/bitter (Hebrew) + harvester or late summer (Greek)
'Ma Teresa' is a standard Filipino registered form of 'Maria Teresa'. Introduced during the Spanish colonial era, the pairing honors the Virgin Mary alongside Saint Teresa of Ávila (or Saint Thérèse of Lisieux). It remains a deeply traditional and widespread feminine compound name in the Philippines.
A compound name combining 'Ma' (the ubiquitous Filipino abbreviation/rendering of 'Maria', from Hebrew Miryam) and 'Teresa' (of Greek origin via Spanish). It is one of the most classic Catholic name combinations introduced during the Spanish colonial period.
Name character
In the Philippines
Frequently registered formally as 'Ma. Teresa' or 'Ma Teresa'. Common Filipino call names and nicknames include Tess, Tessie, Tere, and the portmanteau 'Marites' (which has recently also become contemporary Philippine internet slang for a gossip).
Related forms
- María Teresa Spanish
- Maria Teresa Italian
- Maria Teresa Portuguese
- Marie-Thérèse French
Would your family give Ma Teresa?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Ma Teresa for 2026 yet.
Ma Teresa with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related girl names
About the name Ma Teresa
How do I use Ma Teresa with two Filipino surnames?
Ma Teresa is the given name. The full name is Ma Teresa + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Ma Teresa a common girl name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Ma Teresa is number 428, with 19,109 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.