Tristan is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #2405 in 2013 with 76 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 386 births ranking #592. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 80.3%. In 2013, approximately 1 in every 23,084 girls born was named Tristan. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Tristan probably goes back to the old Pictish name Drustan. In medieval French tales it was likely reshaped by association with the French word triste, meaning "sad", which coloured the romantic legend around it.
The name became famous through the medieval story of Tristan and Iseult and has stayed in use ever since. Its literary depth and long history give it much firmer roots than many modern sound-based names.