Cristan is of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Christianus, which means 'follower of Christ'. It is a variant spelling of the more common Christopher, both names ultimately meaning 'Christ-bearer'. Cristan is often considered unisex due to its similarity to Christine and Christina. It gained popularity in the mid-20th century, with its peak usage being during the 1970s and 1980s. Today, it remains a unique and distinctive name choice, not as widely used as Christopher but still appealing to those seeking a slightly different spelling or pronunciation.
The name Cristan appears to have had periods of popularity and decline over the years. The highest peak was between 1993 and 1996, with consistently high numbers around a dozen births each year. However, there were also several years, especially from 2008 onwards, where the number of births was in single digits or even just five. Overall, Cristan has been chosen for 166 newborns since 1982.