Tristan
Boy name · #309 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Tristan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Tristan in class?
Tristan scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. 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. In 2025 the states with the most Tristans were CA (136), TX (114), FL (88), NY (64), GA (51). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.