Bristol is a name of English origin that has gained popularity in recent years as a unisex given name. The name Bristol is derived from the city of Bristol in southwestern England. The city's name comes from the Old English words "brycstowe," which means "place of the brisk stream." This name was first recorded in the late 9th century and has been associated with the region ever since.
In terms of its history as a given name, Bristol is quite new compared to many other names. It did not begin to appear on birth records until the mid-20th century, and it wasn't until the early 21st century that it gained significant popularity. Today, Bristol is used for both boys and girls, although it is more commonly given to boys in some countries.
Despite its recent emergence as a given name, Bristol has a unique and appealing sound that sets it apart from many other names. Its connection to the historic city of Bristol gives it an intriguing and distinctive origin story, while its meaning lends itself well to both boys' and girls' names. Overall, Bristol is an interesting and lesser-known name choice that offers something different from more traditional or popular options.
The name Bristol has seen a varied trend in its usage as a given name for babies in the United States over the past two decades.
From 2003 to 2014, there was a steady increase in the number of births where Bristol was chosen as the baby's first name. The lowest point during this period was in 2003 with only 7 births, while the highest was reached in 2014 with 110 births.
However, from 2015 onwards, there has been a noticeable decrease in its popularity. After peaking in 2014, the number of births with the name Bristol fell to 97 in 2015 and continued to decline until it reached 58 births in 2023.
Overall, from 2003 to 2023, there have been a total of 1259 babies born in the United States named Bristol. While its popularity has fluctuated over time, it remains a unique and distinctive name choice.