Baby Name Popularity Profile

Tristan

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Tristan.

✦ Sorrowful 🌍 Celtic mythological traditional
National Rank (2025) #309
All-Time Peak Rank #68 Achieved 1996
Total U.S. Births 124,243 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 97.7% Boy / 2.3% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1946 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2000s 5,659 births in 2008
πŸ’‘ The Tristan Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Sorrowful
Language Origin Celtic
Origin Type single
Derived from the Old Welsh name Drystan, possibly from a root meaning 'noise' or 'clamor'. It was later associated with the Latin word tristis meaning 'sad' or 'sorrowful', particularly through the Arthurian legend.
Common Nicknames
Tris
Alternative Spellings
Tristen Tristyn
Pronunciation: TRIS-tΙ™n
Themes & Categories
mythological traditional
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Tristan

According to SSA data, Tristan achieved its highest historical rank of #68 in 1996. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2008 with 5,659 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 71.9%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 78 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Tristan across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -71.9% Decline
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 5,659 births in 2008
Years in Top 100 13 yrs
Years in Top 500 45 yrs
Registry Streak 78 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 0
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 19
1950s: 89
1960s: 272
1970s: 1,037
1980s: 7,582
1990s: 23,915
2000s: 43,300
2010s: 38,693
2020s: 9,336

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Tri-stan
Letter Count 7 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 54.1% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 54.1% of SSA names. Starts with T, a letter used by only 6.1% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Tristan.

πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Alaska
Top States Alaska, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Arizona
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Alaska Unranked 566 1998 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #361 1,091 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #276 887 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #308 3,512 1996 35.9% Decline
Arizona #318 2,623 2008 43.2% Decline
Colorado #383 2,506 2008 34.6% Decline
Florida #238 7,064 2008 40.1% Decline
Montana #290 625 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #597 1,793 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 266 1999 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #438 1,415 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 528 2008 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #423 923 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #247 4,431 2006 42.7% Decline
Texas #331 12,003 2008 47.5% Decline
Delaware #202 321 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #250 3,461 2008 43.5% Decline
New Hampshire Unranked 470 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #386 3,159 1996 59.3% Decline
North Carolina #269 4,117 2007 48.3% Decline
Oklahoma #615 1,854 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #441 1,456 1996 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 443 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #240 1,970 2010 59.3% Decline
Louisiana #252 2,297 1996 41.7% Decline
Alabama #286 2,325 2006 45.9% Decline
South Carolina #221 1,830 2006 23.5% Decline
California #275 12,463 2008 39.6% Decline
Missouri #418 2,742 1996 64.4% Decline
Maine Unranked 525 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #200 1,499 2007 46.7% Decline
Kentucky #343 2,047 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #427 1,223 1999 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #418 2,107 1996 48.1% Decline
Indiana #337 2,604 1996 34.3% Decline
Connecticut #294 1,191 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska Unranked 780 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #478 1,986 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 171 1996 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 329 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #656 1,262 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #338 3,467 1996 59.7% Decline
Ohio #453 4,150 1996 67.1% Decline
New York #296 6,614 2008 51.1% Decline
Illinois #361 4,152 2006 54.5% Decline
New Jersey #334 2,215 2012 50.9% Decline
West Virginia Unranked 744 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #262 1,947 2010 53.1% Decline
Pennsylvania #259 4,027 2009 34.3% Decline
District of Columbia Unranked 274 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 204 2012 Insufficient historical volume

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

πŸ‘¦ Brother Suggestions
Preston Clayton Joaquin Miguel Jaylen Manuel Oscar Brody Kaleb Gavin
πŸ‘§ Sister Suggestions
Giselle Jocelyn Gracie Kaylee Maggie Marley Sydney Miley Itzel Anya

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