Crispin is an ancient and uncommon given name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Crispinus, which was likely based on the Latin word 'crispus', meaning 'curly-haired'. The name gained prominence in medieval times through its appearance in a popular French carol, 'The Canterbury Carols', where it belonged to Saint Crispin, who is venerated as the patron saint of shoemakers. Crispin was also the name of two early saints and martyrs during the Roman Empire's persecution of Christians.
The name Crispin has seen a fluctuating popularity over the years with peaks around 1969 (21 births) and 1971 (31 births), and notable drops like 1958 (8 births) and 2001 (12 births). Since the late 1990s, it has been maintaining a steady popularity with an average of around 20 births per year.