My husband and I have loved the name [name]Tristan[/name] for years. We were so excited when we first talked about names and discovered we had the same favorite boys name. But…now that it’s no longer hypothetical, we’re having doubts. We have other names that we really like but [name]Tristan[/name] has always been our front runner, no competition, despite being much more common than our taste typically is. Please help us with this and give us your honest opinions. What do you think of this name?
I think [name]Tristan[/name] is a great name: soft, yet masculine; easy to spell and pronounce; rooted in history/mythology. The original bearer starred in a pretty sad story, but so did [name]Juliet[/name] and [name]Romeo[/name] and [name]Ophelia[/name] and other names that are getting more use. My favorite [name]Tristan[/name] has always been the young man from the [name]James[/name] Herriot books, which are so funny. [name]Tristan[/name] might be more popular than your taste, but if you both love it and everything else pales, then I think that’s a very compelling reason to use it. Perhaps you could test-run it for a day or two, calling him nothing but [name]Tristan[/name] when talking about him. Then pick another one you both like and give it a try for a few days. Maybe the answer will become a little clearer.
I adore this name. For centuries it was a rare, romantic bird. Then came Legends of the Fall and a brief spike in popularity (which is why [name]Tristan[/name] is more of a [name]Wal[/name]-[name]Mart[/name] name than you would otherwise expect). That will fade with time.
The reasons you have for liking this name are the same reason that I like it.
We’re not reconsidering because of the popularity. We’re more concerned that this name is more broadly disliked than our other choices (Mostly due to the “Most hated baby names list” which we felt comfortable overlooking in the past). I don’t mind if our names aren’t well liked, but I don’t want to stick our kid with a name that people cringe when they hear.
I like [name]Tristan[/name] and it’s one of my partners favourites. Though I can see not everyone loving the name, it’s hardly offensive enough to be on a most hated list?
Shanbrownie, I was confused by it being there also (obviously). Apparently, it comes across as trashy/too romance novel like or trying too hard to be something you aren’t, more specifically a knight or Irish.
I think the knight associations are wonderful. I don’t read romance novels or watch soap operas so I was totally unaware of these associations.
I love [name]Tristan[/name]! I know an adorable little boy named [name]Tristian[/name], which made me totally fall for it. I wouldn’t worry too much about the popularity. It only averages out to about 93 Tristans per state, and even then, when you separate it by counties, it averages out to less than 2 Tristans born in each county in the past year, and it’s dropping in popularity right now (has been for the past nearly 5 years). And when you divide that among the nearly 20-25 schools per county (not counting private (both secular and religious) schools, charter schools, and home schools, etc.), it averages out to about one [name]Tristan[/name] per 8 schools (in each grade)–which would be about one [name]Tristan[/name] in each school, essentially. It’s a great name, I wouldn’t let the popularity get to you. Popularity is a nice thing to avoid, but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary. And you can’t ever really truly escape popularity–I know of someone who named her son [name]Dominic[/name] to try and avoid popularity, and he ended up having TWO other Dominics in her class! Not just grade, but class.
If you’re having doubts, sure, search for other options you both will love, but I wouldn’t forget about [name]Tristan[/name], either. It sounds like you may regret it if you don’t keep it.
Good luck!
That’s some well thought out statistics! I appreciate that info. We’re not especially concerned about popularity. I actually mentioned that in my 1st post as a way of saying how much we liked the name- so much so that we over looked the popularity. I’m more concerned that this name has a lot of haters.
[name]Just[/name] a thought…(building on pp)… [name]Tristan[/name] has been fairly popular of late. 105 girls were named [name]Tristan[/name] in 2011 and 4681 boys. That’s 4786 children last year alone. That’s a minimum of 4786 parents/sets of parents who liked the name (probably more who liked it for a boy but then had a girl). I think that still leaves it in the top 100 names for last year. [name]How[/name] much hate can there be? [name]Tristan[/name] might be a very polarized name but I would’t worry about the haters considering you are bound to find an equal amount of lovers (me included. Its part of the top combo choice should I randomly discover I’m pregnant with twin boys).
I’ve always liked the name [name]Tristan[/name] too. I think the T- beginning give it’s a strong masculine sound but yet -an ending gives it softness. My only hang-up has been that I speak Spanish and living in a community where a lot of people speak Spanish and triste means sad When you attempt to pronounce [name]Tristan[/name] in Spanish, it almost sounds ilke the triste. So, to me, it sounds like a sad name. But that’s just me and I don’t think most people make that association.
As a side note, I always liked the name [name]Sadie[/name], but I was concerned it started with the word, sad, and I was also concerned about the long [name]Say[/name]- sound that it shares with Satan and Sadist. I got over it. I love my daughter’s name and have had absolutely no name regret. My only regret is that other people seem to like it as much as me around the same time, so it’s a little more popular than I would like, but I still love her name.
If you and your husband love the name and always have, go with it! You will only regret not naming him [name]Tristan[/name]. I promise you won’t regret selecting a name you love!
Ok, so here is a comment from someone who doesn’t care for the name. When I hear [name]Tristan[/name] I think: [name]Trista[/name], [name]Kristen[/name], or Triscuit. So, to me it was too effeminate for a choice for my son. My husband really liked it, though. I don’t think that there’s a clear namesake that gives it a negative reaction (such as [name]Fidel[/name], [name]Lenon[/name], etc.). So, if you two love the name, I’d encourage you to use it…even if I’m not personally a fan. [name]Hope[/name] that helps! Good luck!
I love the name [name]Tristan[/name]. It was my top name for a very long time. My style changed over time, which is why it dropped down my list.
The only reasons I can see people hating this name is because it is being used for girls and a lot of people are against popular names.
It has a cool sound and image. I know a [name]Tristan[/name] who is about 9 years old. He is the sweetest and most polite little boy I have ever met.
[name]Love[/name] [name]Tristan[/name] and would consider it for my own child - but my husband knew a tristan he disliked, and that apparently ruins the name for him
My son is [name]Tristan[/name], and we love it. We have never had any negative feedback. He is the only [name]Tristan[/name] we know. Naming him this had nothing to do with popular associations of movies or books, just a name we loved. The only thing that annoys me is when people think he is named after legends of the fall. Not even close and if that is your only reference for that name then you are not very educated as the name is very historical and based in literature before brad [name]Pitt[/name] ever came along. Go with it! My son loves his name.
I [name]LOVE[/name] the name [name]Tristan[/name]! It’s one of my favorites for boys too. But if you’re second guessing, it may be time to really take a good look and decide how you really feel. It would be terrible to name him [name]Tristan[/name] and realize you wanted to name him something else.
Best of luck,
[name]Claire[/name]
I love [name]Tristan[/name] (and [name]Tarquin[/name] and [name]Leander[/name])…
I’m curious…where is this ‘most hated’ list?
I have only met one [name]Tristan[/name], he was quiet, sweet, smart, and very protective of his younger brother. I also do not think it should but on the hated list, I have seen/heard much worse.
missmolly -Here’s the list: Pregnancy, Parenting, Lifestyle, Beauty: Tips & Advice | mom.com If you read about her data collecting methods, it’s obviously pretty lame and has 0 validity. However, it does give a bit of insight that she could find so many negative references to these names.
I’m so glad to hear all of this! I think “polarized” is a good way to describe what our concern was but everyone’s responses have helped with that. We’ll do some more investigated but we’re not writing [name]Tristan[/name] off yet. Thanks for you help!