Tristan
Boy name · #309 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Tristan? In official American birth records, Tristan has been tracked continuously since 1946, giving it 79 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,103 baby boys were named Tristan, placing it at #309 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #101, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,632 boys born in 2025 was named Tristan.
The 79-year story
Tristan first appears in the Social Security records in 1946, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 5,659 boys were named Tristan — good for #81 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Tristan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Tristan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Tristan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Tristan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Tristan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Tristan is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Tristan is most common in MS (1.5 per 1,000), SC (1.2 per 1,000), ID (1.2 per 1,000), LA (1.1 per 1,000), MD (1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Tristan is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Tristan
Statistically, parents drawn to Tristan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cristian, Preston, Esteban, Fabian, and Donovan.
CristianPrestonEstebanFabianDonovanKeeganDorianJaylen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Tristan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,103 | #309 |
| 2024 | 1,302 | #267 |
| 2023 | 1,382 | #253 |
| 2022 | 1,600 | #225 |
| 2021 | 1,825 | #208 |
| 2020 | 2,124 | #182 |
| 2019 | 2,573 | #151 |
| 2018 | 3,230 | #123 |
| 2017 | 3,309 | #121 |
| 2016 | 3,639 | #108 |
| 2015 | 3,927 | #101 |
| 2014 | 3,927 | #98 |
| 2013 | 4,016 | #96 |
| 2012 | 4,441 | #88 |
| 2011 | 4,732 | #87 |
| 2010 | 4,899 | #84 |
| 2009 | 5,350 | #80 |
| 2008 | 5,659 | #81 |
| 2007 | 5,340 | #87 |
| 2006 | 5,414 | #86 |
| 2005 | 3,591 | #113 |
| 2004 | 3,481 | #115 |
| 2003 | 3,634 | #112 |
| 2002 | 3,725 | #103 |
| 2001 | 3,575 | #108 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Tristan?
In official American birth records, the name Tristan first appeared in 1946 (over 79 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 79 years.
Is Tristan a popular boy name?
Tristan ranked #309 among boys in 2025 with 1,103 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #101.
When was the name Tristan most popular?
Tristan peaked in 2008, when 5,659 American boys received the name (ranked #81 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Tristan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,632 newborn American boys was named Tristan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.