Declining since 2022, #3,089 for boys today.
Popularity of Cree since 1989
Babies named Cree per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 33 | 5 |
| 1990s | 371 | 59 |
| 2000s | 168 | 48 |
| 2010s | 323 | 494 |
| 2020s | 229 | 523 |
Meaning & origin
Cree is a modern, unisex name that first appeared on U.S. birth certificates in 1989. Its origin is debated: it may stem from the name of the Cree people, a Native American tribe, or from the Scottish Gaelic word 'cree' meaning 'mountain stream'. The name saw a gradual rise in usage, reaching its peak popularity in 2022, when it ranked highest. Since 2022, its trajectory has been falling. In 2025, Cree ranked 3089 nationally, with a frequency of about 1 in 43,797 births. The name has not been strongly associated with any particular state, reflecting its scattered appeal. Cree's concise, nature-inspired sound fits contemporary naming trends favoring short, gender-neutral names.
Cree is a modern first name that likely draws from either the Cree people of North America or the Scottish Gaelic word 'cree' meaning 'mountain stream'. Its adoption as a given name is a late 20th-century phenomenon, first recorded in the United States in 1989. The name gained modest popularity in the 2000s and 2010s, often chosen for its simple, nature-inspired sound.
Sibling names for Cree
Names that share Cree's style, for a brother or sister.
