Find out how popular the first name Trystan has been for the last 42 years (from 1982 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Trystan by gender

Based on the last 42 years of data, Trystan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 87% of people named Trystan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 30 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Trystan.

The history of the first name Trystan

The name Trystan originates from the Brythonic Celtic language spoken in ancient Britain. It is derived from the elements "tryst" meaning "sad" or "sorrowful" and the noun suffix "-an". The name was initially spelled as Tristan or Tristram.

The name gained widespread popularity due to its association with the tragic medieval romance of Tristan and Iseult, a story made famous by the 12th century French poet Béroul and the 13th century Norman poet Thomas of Britain. In this legend, Tristan is a knight of the Arthurian era who falls in love with the beautiful Iseult, who is betrothed to his uncle, King Mark of Cornwall.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this name was Tristan of Naunteuil, a French crusader who participated in the Third Crusade (1189-1192) and later became the Lord of Naunteuil in Champagne, France. Another notable historical figure was Tristan de Salazar (c. 1510-1573), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who played a significant role in the conquest of Peru alongside Francisco Pizarro.

In the 15th century, Sir Tristan de Leonnoys was a legendary knight featured in the Arthurian romances of Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur". While his historical existence is uncertain, he was portrayed as one of the greatest knights of the Round Table, known for his bravery and skill in combat.

The name also appears in religious texts, such as the medieval French poem "La Vie de Saint Tristan", which tells the story of a 6th-century Breton saint and hermit named Tristan, who founded a monastery in Brittany, France.

Other famous individuals with the name Trystan include Trystan Edwards (1637-1711), a Welsh Anglican clergyman and author; Trystan Gravelle (born 1981), a Welsh actor known for his roles in "Belgravia" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power"; and Trystan Reese (born 1975), an American professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals.

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

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

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