Cruz first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Cruz has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Cruz

A feminine Spanish name meaning "cross".

Popularity of Cruz by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Cruz is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 95% of people named Cruz being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,012 male babies and 19 female babies born with the name Cruz.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 19 baby girls were named Cruz in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 1,012 19
2022 1,056 28
2021 1,116 33
2020 1,097 24
2019 1,111 23
2018 1,020 25
2017 968 26
2016 1,014 22
2015 1,065 27
2014 1,221 30
2013 1,249 28
2012 1,232 32
2011 1,098 29
2010 991 22
2009 905 18
2008 845 28
2007 672 28
2006 524 20
2005 477 19
2004 406 27
2003 359 16
2002 302 35
2001 333 27
2000 282 19
1999 243 25
1998 261 38
1997 229 28
1996 219 23
1995 227 32
1994 208 22
1993 181 28
1992 169 27
1991 188 18
1990 200 21
1989 206 17
1988 173 22
1987 168 15
1986 152 19
1985 120 29
1984 104 32
1983 94 26
1982 102 31
1981 90 34
1980 90 31
1979 78 24
1978 115 22
1977 83 19
1976 81 27
1975 71 32
1974 86 26

The history of the first name Cruz

The name Cruz originated from the Latin word "crux" meaning "cross". It has been a popular given name in Spanish-speaking countries and regions influenced by Catholic traditions, reflecting the significance of the cross in Christianity.

The earliest recorded use of Cruz as a given name dates back to the Middle Ages in Spain and Portugal. It was often bestowed upon individuals born or baptized on religious holidays associated with the cross, such as Good Friday or the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence during the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Conquistadors and missionaries frequently named indigenous converts Cruz as a symbol of their conversion to Christianity. This practice contributed to the widespread adoption of the name across Latin America.

One of the earliest notable figures with the name Cruz was Cruz de Mendoza, a 15th-century Spanish nobleman and military leader who participated in the Reconquista against the Moors. Another prominent historical figure was Cruz de Tolosa, a 16th-century Spanish missionary and linguist who worked among the indigenous populations of Mexico.

In the religious realm, Cruz de Zamora was a 16th-century Spanish Franciscan friar renowned for his mystical writings and spiritual teachings. The name also appears in the annals of art and literature, with figures like Cruz de Arteaga, a 17th-century Spanish painter known for his religious works, and Cruz de Alvarenga, an 18th-century Brazilian poet and member of the Arcadian literary movement.

Moving into the modern era, Cruz Enrique Prado was a 20th-century Peruvian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the United Nations General Assembly. Another notable bearer of the name was Cruz Bustamante, a Mexican-American politician who served as the Lieutenant Governor of California from 1999 to 2007.

The name Cruz has transcended its religious origins and is now widely used across various cultural and linguistic backgrounds, reflecting its enduring popularity and symbolic connection to the cross.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cruz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cruz, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Cruz first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 23, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/cruz-meaning-and-history/.

"Cruz first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/cruz-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 23 November, 2024

Cruz first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/cruz-meaning-and-history/.

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