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

Popularity of Tristen by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Tristen is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 84% of people named Tristen being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 152 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Tristen.

The history of the first name Tristen

The name Tristen originated from the Old French name Tristran, which was derived from the Celtic British name Drystan or Trystan. It is believed that the name has its roots in the Brittonic words "trist" meaning "sad" or "sorrowful" and the suffix "-an" indicating a diminutive form. The name gained popularity through the medieval romance of Tristan and Iseult, a tragic love story that was part of the Arthurian legends.

The earliest known written record of the name Tristen can be found in the 12th century Old French prose romance, the Roman de Tristan, written by Thomas of Britain. This work was based on earlier Celtic legends and was a significant contribution to the development of the Arthurian cycle of stories.

One of the most famous historical figures with the name Tristen was Sir Tristram, a knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend. He was renowned for his bravery and skill in battle, as well as his tragic love affair with the beautiful Iseult, who was already married to King Mark of Cornwall.

Another notable figure was Tristram Coffyn, an early American settler born in 1609 in Devon, England. He was one of the first settlers of Nantucket Island and played a crucial role in establishing the island's whaling industry, which became a major economic force in the region.

Tristram Shandy, the fictional character created by the English writer Laurence Sterne in his novel "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman," published in 1759, is another famous bearer of the name. The novel is considered a landmark in the development of the novel form and is renowned for its innovative narrative style and humor.

In the realm of music, Tristram Cary, an English composer and pioneer of electronic music, made significant contributions to the field. He was born in 1925 and is best known for his work in creating electronic soundtracks for films and television shows, including the iconic "Doctor Who" theme.

Tristram Hunt, a British historian, broadcaster, and former politician, was born in 1974. He served as a Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent Central from 2010 to 2017 and was also the Shadow Secretary of State for Education under the leadership of Ed Miliband.

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

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

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