Tristan first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Tristan

A masculine name of Welsh-Cornish origin meaning "sorrowful" or "noisy".

Popularity of Tristan by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,373 male babies and 26 female babies born with the name Tristan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 26 baby girls were named Tristan in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 1,373 26
2022 1,588 25
2021 1,820 35
2020 2,116 40
2019 2,564 27
2018 3,222 38
2017 3,303 50
2016 3,634 71
2015 3,924 80
2014 3,924 61
2013 4,014 75
2012 4,435 87
2011 4,730 108
2010 4,895 99
2009 5,348 144
2008 5,657 157
2007 5,339 194
2006 5,413 194
2005 3,591 186
2004 3,481 209
2003 3,634 228
2002 3,725 263
2001 3,575 197
2000 3,531 206
1999 3,844 194
1998 4,169 251
1997 4,196 251
1996 5,458 386
1995 3,088 284
1994 492 96
1993 567 109
1992 622 116
1991 724 116
1990 753 140
1989 763 137
1988 803 141
1987 933 139
1986 922 172
1985 1,061 178
1984 873 163
1983 855 169
1982 762 152
1981 400 95
1980 208 42
1979 170 35
1978 132 38
1977 119 32
1976 110 37
1975 113 38
1974 95 33

The history of the first name Tristan

The name Tristan has its origins in the Celtic language of Brittonic, which was spoken in parts of present-day Britain during the medieval period. It is derived from the elements "tryst" meaning "sad" or "sorrowful" and the suffix "-an" indicating a diminutive form. The original Brittonic form was likely "Drystan" or "Trystan."

One of the earliest known references to the name Tristan comes from the medieval legend of Tristan and Iseult, which dates back to the 12th century. This tragic romance, originating in the legends of the Cornish region of Britain, tells the story of the Cornish knight Tristan and his ill-fated love for the Irish princess Iseult.

The earliest recorded person with the name Tristan was Tristan de Mareuil, a French knight who lived in the 12th century. Other notable historical figures bearing the name include Tristan l'Hermite (1601-1655), a French poet and playwright, and Tristan da Cunha (1506-1548), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who lent his name to the remote Tristan da Cunha archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean.

In the realm of literature, one of the most famous Tristans is the protagonist of the 12th-century epic poem "Tristan and Iseult" by the Norman poet Béroul. This work, along with other versions of the legend by authors like Gottfried von Strassburg and Thomas of Britain, helped to popularize the name across Europe.

Another notable Tristan was Tristan de Salazar (c. 1510-1573), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of Guatemala and served as governor of Yucatán. In the realm of music, the name was borne by Tristan Murail (born 1947), a French composer and one of the founders of the spectral music movement.

Despite its Celtic origins, the name Tristan has been used across various cultures and regions throughout history, with its popularity ebbing and flowing over time. Its association with the enduring medieval legend has contributed to its enduring appeal and recognition across generations.

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 Tristan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tristan, 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!

"Tristan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/tristan-meaning-and-history/.

"Tristan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/tristan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

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

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