Cruz is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #6421 in 2006 with 20 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 1998 with 38 births ranking #3241. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 13.0%. In 2006, approximately 1 in every 95,054 girls born was named Cruz. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Cruz is a Spanish word and surname name meaning "cross". It is brief, bold, and carries an unmistakable Christian religious background.
The name comes from religious vocabulary and long-standing Hispanic surname use rather than from an older personal-name tradition. Its rise as a first name reflects the modern popularity of short, striking cross-cultural names.