Declining since 1985, #7,491 for girls today.
Popularity of Kristal since 1951
Babies named Kristal per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 181 |
| 1960s | 953 |
| 1970s | 2,788 |
| 1980s | 4,338 |
| 1990s | 2,087 |
| 2000s | 1,166 |
| 2010s | 469 |
| 2020s | 97 |
Meaning & origin
Kristal entered the U.S. baby name charts in 1951, a modern respelling of the jewel name Crystal. It reached its peak in 1982, ranking as high as 436 that year, driven by the popularity of 'phonics' spellings and names associated with glamour. The name has been on a steady decline since 1985, reflecting a broader shift away from Crystal's variants. In 2025, approximately 1 in 114,805 births are named Kristal, with the strongest remaining usage in Texas. Despite its fall from peak popularity, Kristal remains recognizable as part of the late 20th-century trend of using 'K' to freshen traditional names.
Kristal is a modern respelling of Crystal, which derives from the Greek word 'krystallos' meaning 'ice' or 'clear stone'. The name became popular in the English-speaking world in the 19th century as part of the trend of jewel and mineral names. The 'K' spelling emerged in the mid-20th century, peaking in the 1980s.
Where Kristal is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Krissy, Krista, Kris
Sibling names for Kristal
Names that share Kristal's style, for a brother or sister.
