Tristan Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Tristan is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Tristan?
Tristan is spelled T-R-I-S-T-A-N. The name has 7 letters.
Tristan at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- One proposed meaning of the name Tristan is “sorrowful” or “sad”, possibly derived from the Latin “tristis.”
- Origin
- The name Tristan may derive from Latin origins and is commonly associated with medieval European literature.
- Pronunciation
- TRIS-tan · 2 syllables
Tristan Popularity in 2025
Rank#5,554
Recorded Births22
Rank#309
Recorded Births1,103
- Girls usage rose 2,889 places to #5,554 and recorded 10 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 42 places to #309 and recorded 199 fewer 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 Tristan Mean?
One proposed meaning of the name Tristan is “sorrowful” or “sad”, possibly derived from the Latin “tristis.”
Origin: The name Tristan may derive from Latin origins and is commonly associated with medieval European literature.
How Do You Pronounce Tristan?
PronunciationTRIS-tan
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Tristan?
- History
- Tristan is linked to the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Isolde, appearing in various medieval texts from the 12th century onward.
Tristan 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 | 22 | #5,554 |
| 2025 | Boys | 1,103 | #309 |
| 2024 | Girls | 12 | #8,443 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,302 | #267 |
| 2023 | Girls | 26 | #4,999 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,382 | #253 |
| 2022 | Girls | 25 | #5,172 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,600 | #225 |
| 2021 | Girls | 35 | #4,090 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,825 | #208 |
| 2020 | Girls | 40 | #3,676 |
| 2020 | Boys | 2,124 | #182 |
| 2019 | Girls | 27 | #4,909 |
| 2019 | Boys | 2,573 | #151 |
| 2018 | Girls | 39 | #3,789 |
| 2018 | Boys | 3,230 | #123 |
| 2017 | Girls | 50 | #3,192 |
| 2017 | Boys | 3,309 | #121 |
| 2016 | Girls | 71 | #2,517 |
| 2016 | Boys | 3,639 | #108 |
| 2015 | Girls | 80 | #2,318 |
| 2015 | Boys | 3,927 | #101 |
| 2014 | Girls | 61 | #2,809 |
| 2014 | Boys | 3,927 | #98 |
When Was Tristan 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.
2008 · Boys
5,659 recorded births
National rank #81
1996 · Boys
5,458 recorded births
National rank #68
2006 · Boys
5,414 recorded births
National rank #86
2009 · Boys
5,350 recorded births
National rank #80
Where Tristan 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 Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| DE | #168 | 6 |
| MS | #189 | 16 |
| SC | #212 | 26 |
| MT | #227 | 5 |
| MD | #233 | 24 |
| FL | #238 | 88 |
| LA | #239 | 21 |
| GA | #240 | 51 |