Tristan
Boy name · Celtic · French · Gaelic
Meaningpossibly tumult · Celtic
- US rank
- #309
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #68 in 1996
1,103 babies were named Tristan in the US in 2025. It has dropped 127 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1962–2025
US births per million boys, 1946–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Tristan you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Tristan
Tristan Bernard
French playwright (1866–1947)
Choose Tristan and your child shares a first name with Tristan Bernard, a French playwright. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Tristan, like who?” Tristan Bernard's Wikipedia article is available in 39 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Tristan Bernard on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Agence de presse Meurisse, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,548 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Tristan, 1,103 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Tristan would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryTristan first shows up in US birth records in 1946, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 79 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1996, when it ranked #68. Today it's #309, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowTristan was 2.8× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 556 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 1,548.
- TrendTristan has slipped 127 places over the last five years and now sits at #309. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedTristan is most popular in Delaware, where it ranks #168, followed by Mississippi (#189) and South Carolina (#212). It's in the top 1,000 in 39 states.
- MeaningIn Celtic, Tristan means “possibly tumult”. Our records link it to Celtic, French and Gaelic roots.
About the name Tristan
Tristan is a boy name of Celtic, French and Gaelic origin meaning “possibly tumult”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with T and ending in “-tan”. US birth records list Tristan for boys from 1946 to 2025, in 79 of those 80 years. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked #68 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #309, with 1,103 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesFrench namesGaelic names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.6 | 177,778 girls |
| 1970s | 20 | 49,801 girls |
| 1980s | 81 | 12,389 girls |
| 1990s | 109 | 9,174 girls |
| 2000s | 107 | 9,321 girls |
| 2010s | 40 | 25,202 girls |
| 2020s | 16 | 60,914 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 2.8 | 363,636 boys |
| 1950s | 4.4 | 227,273 boys |
| 1960s | 15 | 68,306 boys |
| 1970s | 63 | 15,858 boys |
| 1980s | 410 | 2,441 boys |
| 1990s | 1,249 | 800 boys |
| 2000s | 2,163 | 462 boys |
| 2010s | 2,052 | 487 boys |
| 2020s | 900 | 1,111 boys |
Other spellings of Tristan
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Tristan
What does the name Tristan mean?
Tristan means “possibly tumult” in Celtic.
What is the origin of the name Tristan?
Tristan has Celtic, French, Gaelic roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Tristan a boy or girl name?
Tristan is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Tristan?
Tristan ranked #309 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,103 babies. Its best year was 1996 (#68).