Kruz
A masculine name derived from the Spanish word "cruz" meaning "cross".
Name Census estimates that about 2,534 living Americans carry the first name Kruz. It is a predominantly male name (97.5% of registrations). The average person named Kruz today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kruz births was 2022 (204 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kruz. 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.
Key insights
- • Although Kruz is used almost entirely for boys, the SSA data does show 64 girls registered with the name since 1880.
- • Kruz is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 10 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
2.5K
~ 1 in 135,262 Americans
Peak year
2022
204 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,273
Tracked since 1987
Gender
Gender distribution for Kruz
Kruz leans heavily male at 97.5% of total registrations, but 64 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Kruz as a male name
- Ranked #1,273 in 2024
- 154 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (197 births)
Kruz as a female name
- Ranked #16,519 in 2024
- 5 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2020 (9 births)
Popularity
Kruz: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kruz from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 1,286 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Kruz remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kruz 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 Kruz during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kruz' live
The SSA's state-level files cover 30 states and territories. California, Texas, Louisiana recorded the most babies named Kruz, while Virginia, New York, Hawaii recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 41 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kruz
The name Kruz is believed to have originated from the Spanish language and culture, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "cruz," which means "cross" and is closely associated with the Christian faith.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kruz can be found in historical records from the Spanish colonial era in the Americas. It was often given to individuals born or baptized near significant religious sites or missions marked by crosses.
Kruz gained prominence in the late 18th century with the birth of Kruz Fernandez (1772-1848), a Spanish explorer and navigator known for his expeditions along the Pacific coast of North America. His accomplishments contributed to the name's popularity among Spanish-speaking communities.
Another notable figure was Kruz Mendoza (1889-1964), a Mexican revolutionary and political activist who fought for agrarian reforms and workers' rights during the Mexican Revolution. His legacy as a champion of social justice further solidified the name's association with strength and resilience.
In the world of literature, Kruz Fuentes (1921-2005) was a renowned Peruvian poet and novelist whose works explored themes of identity, cultural diversity, and the human condition. His poetic contributions to the Latin American literary canon earned him widespread recognition.
The name Kruz also found its way into the realm of music with Kruz Martínez (1946-2020), a Cuban-American singer and songwriter who popularized the Latin jazz genre. His soulful performances and collaborations with other influential musicians left an indelible mark on the music industry.
Lastly, Kruz Alvarez (1960-present) is a contemporary artist and sculptor from Chile known for his thought-provoking installations that challenge societal norms and promote cultural awareness. His works have been exhibited in numerous prestigious art galleries and museums around the world.
While the name Kruz may have humble origins, its rich history and association with notable individuals from various fields have contributed to its enduring presence and cultural significance across Spanish-speaking regions and beyond.
People
Kruz + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kruz as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kruz: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kruz?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,534 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kruz 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 135,262 US residents.
Is Kruz a common name?
We classify Kruz as "Rare". It ranks above 94.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,555 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kruz most popular?
The single biggest year for Kruz was 2022, when 204 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kruz is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kruz a male name?
Yes, 97.5% of people registered as Kruz in the SSA data are male. 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.