Of Celtic and Welsh origin.
An Old French form of the Pictish name Drustan.
It is rarely used as a feminine name.
Sources mention that the spelling of the name was changed due to the association with the Latin word “tristis”, meaning “sad”.
Drustan is a diminutive of the Celtic name Drust, deriving from the word “drest”, meaning “riot” and “clatter”.
Tristan is the male hero of the “Tristan and Iseult”, -commonly spelled Isolde- Celtic legend, which had a great impact in Western art and inspired numerous literature and music artists.
Variant forms of the name are: Trystan, Drystan, Tristen, Triston, Tristain, Tris, Trysten.
Famous male bearers are Tristan Wilds, Tristan Tzara, Tristan Thomas, Tristan Rogers, Tristan MacManus, Tristán Ulloa.
Famous female bearer is American singer-songwriter Tristan Prettyman.
Watch Tristan Prettyman performing “I Was Gonna Marry You”: