Names › Boys' names › T › Tristan
Tristan
Meaning: uncertain; linked to Latin tristis ('sad') · Origin: Celtic · Gender: usually a boy's name
Origin & history
From the Celtic Drustan; medieval writers linked it to French triste, 'sad'. Tristan and Isolde is one of the great medieval love stories.
Nicknames
Tris, Stan
Variants & related names
Tristram, Tristán, Tristano
Tristan name art
A free preview of a printable “Tristan” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Tristan mean?
Tristan means “uncertain; linked to Latin tristis ('sad')”. It comes from Celtic.
Is Tristan a popular name?
Yes — Tristan has been one of the most popular boys' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.
What are nicknames for Tristan?
Tris, Stan.
What are other forms of Tristan?
Tristram, Tristán, Tristano.
Similar names
Arthur · Theodore · Thomas · Tyler · Toby · Teddy
More: names starting with T · all boys' names
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.