Tadesse or Tadese is a name of Ethiopian origin. Notable people with the name include:
Given name Tadesse Birru (1921–1975), Ethiopian army officer and revolutionary Tadesse Mamechae (Tadesse Mamecha Gebre-Tsadik, born 1941), Ethiopian sculptor Tadese Tola (born 1987), winner of the 2008 New York City Half Marathon
Surname Feyse Tadese (born 1988), Ethiopian half marathon specialist Kidane Tadese (born 1987), 2008 Olympian and brother of Zersenay Tadese Meba Tadesse (born 1986), team silver medallist in the 2003 World Cross Country Championships Mekdes Bekele Tadese (born 1987), 2007 All-Africa Games silver medallist in steeplechase Mestawat Tadesse (born 1985), female athlete specialising in 1500 metres Sinedu Tadesse (1974–1995), committed murder-suicide on a Harvard University campus Zersenay Tadese (born 1982), four-time World Half Marathon champion and Olympic bronze medallist