Bristol Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Bristol is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Bristol?
Bristol is spelled B-R-I-S-T-O-L. The name has 7 letters.
Bristol at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Bristol means “the place of the bridge.”
- Origin
- Bristol is a name commonly associated with the English city of Bristol, which refers to a settlement near a bridge over the River Avon.
- Pronunciation
- BRIS-tuhl · 2 syllables
Bristol Popularity in 2025
Rank#728
Recorded Births382
Rank#8,910
Recorded Births8
- Girls usage fell 89 places to #728 and recorded 81 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 77 places to #8,910 and recorded the same number of births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Bristol Mean?
Bristol means “the place of the bridge.”
Origin: Bristol is a name commonly associated with the English city of Bristol, which refers to a settlement near a bridge over the River Avon.
How Do You Pronounce Bristol?
PronunciationBRIS-tuhl
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Bristol?
- History
- The place name Bristol appears in historical records from the medieval period, reflecting its geographical significance as a river crossing.
Bristol Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 382 | #728 |
| 2025 | Boys | 8 | #8,910 |
| 2024 | Girls | 463 | #639 |
| 2024 | Boys | 8 | #8,987 |
| 2023 | Girls | 574 | #529 |
| 2023 | Boys | 12 | #6,897 |
| 2022 | Girls | 609 | #513 |
| 2022 | Boys | 8 | #8,990 |
| 2021 | Girls | 691 | #453 |
| 2021 | Boys | 15 | #5,776 |
| 2020 | Girls | 621 | #491 |
| 2020 | Boys | 15 | #5,699 |
| 2019 | Girls | 788 | #390 |
| 2019 | Boys | 13 | #6,406 |
| 2018 | Girls | 610 | #509 |
| 2018 | Boys | 21 | #4,610 |
| 2017 | Girls | 638 | #490 |
| 2017 | Boys | 19 | #4,935 |
| 2016 | Girls | 590 | #526 |
| 2016 | Boys | 15 | #5,789 |
| 2015 | Girls | 705 | #448 |
| 2015 | Boys | 12 | #6,676 |
| 2014 | Girls | 756 | #424 |
| 2014 | Boys | 20 | #4,702 |
When Was Bristol Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2019 · Girls
788 recorded births
National rank #390
2014 · Girls
756 recorded births
National rank #424
2013 · Girls
726 recorded births
National rank #418
2011 · Girls
719 recorded births
National rank #435
Where Bristol Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WV | #154 | 10 |
| IA | #258 | 13 |
| SC | #373 | 13 |
| MO | #386 | 15 |
| AL | #391 | 12 |
| KS | #404 | 8 |
| KY | #405 | 10 |
| AR | #425 | 7 |