Tristian
Tristan, also known as Tristran or Tristram and similar names, is the folk hero of the legend of Tristan and Iseult. While escorting the Irish princess Iseult to wed Tristan's uncle, King Mark of Cornwall, Tristan and Iseult accidentally drink a love potion during the journey and fall in love, beginning an adulterous relationship that eventually leads to Tristan's banishment and death.
Meaning & Origin of Tristian
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Tristan, also known as Tristran or Tristram and similar names, is the folk hero of the legend of Tristan and Iseult. While escorting the Irish princess Iseult to wed Tristan's uncle, King Mark of Cornwall, Tristan and Iseult accidentally drink a love potion during the journey and fall in love, beginning an adulterous relationship that eventually leads to Tristan's banishment and death.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Tristian
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Tristian as a girl name dates back to 1982, when 7 babies received it. 1996 was its biggest year on record, with 44 newborns named Tristian — #2,760 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 35% of all recorded Tristians. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2018 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 641 Tristians have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Tristian on the record books as a boy name in 1977, with 7 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2010, when 361 Tristians were born — ranking #665 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 34% of all recorded Tristians. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,913 among boy names with 84 births, falling sharply (-48%). In total, more than 8K Tristians have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Tristian
Phonetically similar names — useful when Tristian 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 Tristian
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About the name Tristian
Tristian is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1977 and has accumulated 8K births in the dataset. Tristian's peak popularity came in 2010 when it ranked #591. Use the chart and map above to compare Tristian's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2010 →
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- 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.