Rising since 2012, #8,860 for girls today.
Popularity of Cressida since 1969
Babies named Cressida per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 25 |
| 1980s | 25 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 59 |
| 2020s | 39 |
Meaning & origin
Cressida is a literary name with a distinguished pedigree, having first appeared in Chaucer's 'Troilus and Criseyde' and later Shakespeare's 'Troilus and Cressida.' Despite its ancient associations, the name was not recorded in U.S. birth data until 1969. Its popularity has been rising since 2012, reaching its peak year in 2025, when it ranked 8860 with a usage rate of 1 in 146,115 girls. The name remains rare, appealing to parents drawn to its classical literary roots and soft, melodic sound. Cressida is a distinctive choice that carries a sense of history and artistry without being overly common.
The name Cressida was first used by Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem 'Troilus and Criseyde' (1380s), anglicized from the Greek name Chryseis. In Greek mythology, Chryseis was a Trojan woman whose name means 'golden.' The form Cressida later appears in Shakespeare's 'Troilus and Cressida' (1602). Despite the ancient associations, the name has no classical origin in this exact spelling and is considered a literary invention. It has seen occasional use in England since the 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cress, Cressy, Sida
Variants: Criseyde, Chryseis
Sibling names for Cressida
Names that share Cressida's style, for a brother or sister.
