Tristan
English · Boy · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Tristan
The name Tristan derives from the Latin root "tristis," meaning "sad" or "sorrowful," and entered European usage through the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Isolde.
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Etymology
The name Tristan derives from the Latin root "tristis," meaning "sad" or "sorrowful," and entered European usage through the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Isolde. The name is primarily used in English, French, German, and Celtic cultures; it gained particular prominence through medieval romance literature and has been borne by various historical figures including Tristan da Cunha, the Portuguese explorer.
Tristan currently ranks #309 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2008.
Variants & nicknames
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Sibling name ideas
English, French, Arthurian Cycle, Spanish names that sit beautifully beside TristanSimilar names you might like
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Names that sound like Tristan
Phonetic match, not just spelling"Torstein is a Scandinavian name combining the Old Norse elements "Þórr" (the thunder god Thor) and "steinn" (stone), meaning "Thor's…"
"Tristin is a modern English spelling variant of Tristan, derived from the Latin root "tristis," meaning "sad" or "sorrowful," though…"
"Torsti is a Finnish diminutive form of Torsten, which derives from the Old Norse name Þórsteinn, composed of "Þórr" (the…"
"Trystan means "tumult" or "sorrowful" and derives from the Latin root "tristis" (sad) or possibly the Celtic "tryst" (tumult)."
"Thorstein means "Thor's stone" or "stone of Thor," combining the Old Norse elements "Thor" (the thunder god) and "steinn" (stone)."
"The name Tristen is a variant of Tristan, derived from the Celtic root *trist-* meaning "sad" or "sorrowful," often interpreted…"
"The name 'Tristian' is a variant of 'Tristan', derived from the Celtic root *trist-* meaning "sorrowful" or "sad," from the…"
"Torsten means "Thor's stone" or "Thor's thunder," deriving from the Old Norse elements *Þórr* (the god Thor) and *steinn* (stone)."
"Trishtha is a Sanskrit-derived name meaning "satisfied" or "content," rooted in the Sanskrit word "tṛṣ" (thirst) with the suffix "-tha"…"
"Thorsten derives from the Old Norse name Þórsteinn, combining "Þórr" (Thor, the Norse god of thunder) with "steinn" (stone), meaning…"
"Tarja-Tuulikki is a Finnish compound name where Tarja derives from the Old Norse name Torgny (meaning "Thor's battle") and Tuulikki…"
"Triston is a variant spelling of Tristan, derived from the Latin root "tristis" meaning "sad" or "sorrowful," with Old French…"