Terrence is the English form of the Roman family name Terentius, whose meaning is uncertain but is often linked to the Latin terens, "smooth" or "tender". Terence, the comic playwright of ancient Rome, was a freed slave from North Africa, and the name became popular among African American families in the 20th century. Terrence ranked number 488 in 2000, dropped out of the US top 1000 around 2019 and stands at number 1600 in 2025.