Declining since 1986, #2,117 for girls today.
Popularity of Krystal since 1946
Babies named Krystal per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 39 |
| 1950s | 514 |
| 1960s | 1,720 |
| 1970s | 6,249 |
| 1980s | 37,496 |
| 1990s | 19,079 |
| 2000s | 6,823 |
| 2010s | 2,614 |
| 2020s | 652 |
Meaning & origin
Krystal entered U.S. naming records in 1946, but its main ascent began in the 1970s, mirroring the rise of other 'K'-spelled variants. The name reached its peak rank of 2117 in 1985, when it was given to over 2,000 baby girls that year. Since 1986, its usage has steadily declined; in 2025 the name was given to roughly 1 in every 18,264 newborns, placing it at rank 2117. The states with the highest frequency of the name are Virginia, Washington, and Illinois, indicating a broad geographic spread. Krystal represents a distinctly modern naming style, offering a phonetic twist on the classic gemstone name Crystal.
Krystal is a modern variant of Crystal, which derives from the Greek word 'krystallos' meaning 'ice' or 'rock crystal'. The name came into use in the English-speaking world in the 19th century as a gemstone name, but adopted its creative spelling with a 'K' in the mid-20th century, likely influenced by other 'K' names. It saw a surge in popularity in the 1970s and 1980s alongside similar names like Kylie and Kimberly.
Where Krystal 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.
“Krystal” around the world
Where Krystal lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Krys, Kryssy, Krista
Sibling names for Krystal
Names that share Krystal's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Krystal
Names whose popularity has moved with Krystal's over the last 50 years.
