Jameela Jamil's character was originally named Tessa before being renamed Tahani. NBC's early casting announcement for The Good Place used “Tessa” for the role that became Tahani Al-Jamil.
Tahani is introduced as a wealthy British philanthropist whose public generosity and constant celebrity name-dropping conceal deep insecurity. Her character's story gradually reveals that many of her charitable achievements were motivated by competition with her younger sister, Kamilah, and a lifelong desire for parental approval.
Tessa was an early development and casting name, not a second identity that Tahani adopts onscreen. Jamil was cast on February 25, 2016, while the series was still being shaped, and the finished character appeared as Tahani when the show premiered later that year. The change also helped give the ensemble a broader range of cultural backgrounds.
Fans sometimes confuse Tessa with Kamilah because Kamilah is Tahani's sister and one of the most important figures in her backstory. Kamilah, however, is a separate character; Tessa was the role's earlier name during production.