Cruz
Cruz is primarily a surname, but is also used as a first name mainly in the US and the UK. It is of Iberian origin, first found in Castile, Spain, and later spread throughout the territories of the former Spanish and Portuguese Empires. In Spanish and Portuguese, the word means "cross", either the Christian cross or the figure of transecting lines or ways.
- Spanish
- Portuguese
Meaning & Origin of Cruz
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Cruz is primarily a surname, but is also used as a first name mainly in the US and the UK. It is of Iberian origin, first found in Castile, Spain, and later spread throughout the territories of the former Spanish and Portuguese Empires. In Spanish and Portuguese, the word means "cross", either the Christian cross or the figure of transecting lines or ways.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Spanish
- Portuguese
The Story of Cruz
As a girl name
Cruz first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1890, with 8 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1923: 84 births, good for #793 nationwide. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,785 among girl names with 16 births, falling sharply (-26%). In total, more than 4K Cruzs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Cruz as a boy name dates back to 1880, when 6 babies received it. 2013 was its biggest year on record, with 1,250 newborns named Cruz — #279 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 34% of all recorded Cruzs. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #321 among boy names with 1,070 births, holding steady (+0%). In total, more than 32K Cruzs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Cruz
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Cruz. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Cruz
Phonetically similar names — useful when Cruz is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cruz
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About the name Cruz
Cruz is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 32K births in the dataset. Cruz's peak popularity came in 2013 when it ranked #279. Use the chart and map above to compare Cruz's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2013 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.