Teresinha

Teresinha is a Portuguese diminutive form of Teresa, a name whose exact origin remains debated but is most commonly traced to the Greek toponym Therasia, referring to the Greek island of that name, or possibly to the Greek word meaning to harvest or to reap. The name gained widespread Christian use largely through the influence of Saint Teresa of Ávila, the sixteenth-century Spanish mystic and reformer, and later Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. As a diminutive, Teresinha carries an affectionate or familiar tone common in Portuguese naming traditions. Related forms include Teresa, Theresa, Térèse, and Thérèse.