Terrance is an American spelling of Terence, from the Roman family name Terentius, whose meaning is uncertain; it is sometimes linked to the Latin terens, "rubbing" or "smooth". The Roman playwright Terence, a former slave from North Africa, is the name's most famous ancient bearer, and in the 20th century it became especially popular in African American families. Terrance stood at number 402 in 2000 and has fallen steadily to number 1570 in 2025.