Cresta
A feminine Latin name meaning "crest" or "tuft".
Name Census estimates that about 214 living Americans carry the first name Cresta. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cresta today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cresta births was 1975 (37 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cresta. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
214
~ 1 in 1,601,656 Americans
Peak year
1975
37 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
1987 SSA rank
#11,677
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Cresta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cresta from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 197 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cresta by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cresta during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Crestas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Cresta
The name Cresta originates from the Spanish language and is a feminine given name. It is derived from the Spanish word "cresta," meaning "crest" or "ridge," referring to the top of a mountain or a hill.
In its earliest known usage, the name Cresta was associated with the mountainous regions of Spain, particularly in areas with rugged terrain and scenic vistas. The name likely emerged as a way to celebrate the natural beauty and grandeur of these landscapes.
While the exact origins of the name are uncertain, there are records of individuals bearing the name Cresta in historical documents from the 16th century onwards. One of the earliest recorded instances is Cresta de la Vega, a Spanish noblewoman born in 1542, who was known for her philanthropic efforts and support for education in her community.
Throughout history, the name Cresta has been carried by several notable individuals. In the 18th century, Cresta Montoya (1724-1798) was a renowned Spanish artist known for her intricate tapestries and textile works, which adorned many royal palaces and churches of the time.
Another prominent figure was Cresta Álvarez (1856-1932), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Spain. She founded several schools and worked tirelessly to promote equal educational opportunities for girls and women.
In the field of literature, Cresta García (1890-1968) was a celebrated Spanish poet and novelist, whose works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Her poetry collections, such as "Crestas del Alma" (Crests of the Soul), garnered critical acclaim and influenced generations of writers.
More recently, Cresta Hernández (1920-2005) was a groundbreaking scientist and one of the first women in Spain to earn a doctoral degree in physics. Her research on theoretical particle physics contributed significantly to the advancement of scientific knowledge in the 20th century.
Throughout its history, the name Cresta has represented a connection to the natural world, particularly the majestic beauty of mountains and ridges. It has been borne by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from the arts and literature to education and science.
People
Cresta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cresta as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cresta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cresta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 214 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cresta going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,601,656 US residents.
Is Cresta a common name?
We classify Cresta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 236 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cresta most popular?
The single biggest year for Cresta was 1975, when 37 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cresta is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cresta a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cresta in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.