NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Kristal

Of English origin, meaning "crystalline stone" or "transparent brilliance".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kristal is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kristal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4535, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 11 births.

This profile covers 124 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 36% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 123 living people in the UK are called Kristal. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kristal ranked #4535 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 11 girls were registered as Kristal.
  • About 123 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kristal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4535

2020

Births in 2020

4

Latest year

Peak year

1997

11 births

Estimated living

123

2026

Meaning

What does Kristal mean?

The name Kristal is a variant spelling of the name Crystal, which has its origins in the Ancient Greek language. The word "krustallos" meant ice or crystal, referring to the transparent mineral. The name likely arose as a metaphorical reference to clarity, purity, or beauty.

In its earliest recorded use, the name Crystal appeared in medieval English records dating back to the 12th century. It was sometimes rendered as Cristal or Cristall, reflecting the linguistic shift from the Greek root. The name gained popularity during the Renaissance period, particularly in England and France.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Crystal de Verdun, a 13th-century noblewoman from Normandy, France. In literature, the name appeared in the 14th-century English poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," where a character named Crystal is mentioned.

During the 16th century, the name was associated with the rise of Protestantism and the translation of the Bible into vernacular languages. The name Crystal was sometimes used as a symbolic reference to the clarity and transparency desired in religious teachings.

In the 17th century, Crystal Towneley (1617-1672) was a notable English author and philosopher. She wrote works on religious and political topics, challenging the societal norms of her time.

The 18th century brought Crystal Eastlake (1770-1845), an English artist and writer known for her expertise in interior design and decorative arts. Her influential book "Hints on Household Taste" helped shape Victorian-era aesthetics.

In the 19th century, Crystal Ambruster (1853-1924) was a German-American artist and educator. She founded the Crystal Ambruster School of Art in Chicago, which played a significant role in promoting arts education for women.

Another notable figure was Crystal Eastman (1881-1928), an American lawyer, activist, and leader in the women's suffrage movement. She co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and advocated for workers' rights and gender equality.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kristal over time

The chart below shows babies named Kristal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kristal, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2020, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kristal
036811199620082020

Decades

Kristal by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kristal was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4535 4 1
2010s #4837 21 5
2000s #2803 69 10
1990s #2126 30 4

Related

Names similar to Kristal

FAQ

Kristal: questions and answers

How popular is the name Kristal in the UK right now?

In 2020, Kristal was ranked #4535 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Kristal most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 11 babies registered as Kristal in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kristal?

Of English origin, meaning "crystalline stone" or "transparent brilliance".

How many people are called Kristal in the UK?

A total of 124 babies have been registered as Kristal across the 20 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.