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The short answer
Tristan is a masculine name used in English and French. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Probably from the old Pictish name Drustan, a diminutive of Drust. As Tristan, it first appears in 12th-century French tales, probably altered by association with Old French triste ‘sad’." It ranked #309 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, probably from the old Pictish name Drustan, a diminutive of Drust. As Tristan, it first appears in 12th-century French tales, probably altered by association with Old French triste ‘sad’. The entry lists its usage as English, French, Arthurian Cycle.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Tristan ranked #309 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #309 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Tristan in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tristan mean?
Behind the Name does not give Tristan a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: probably.
Is Tristan a popular name?
Tristan ranked #309 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Tristan a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Tristan appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Tristan — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
