Krystal
Primarily a girl's name with 75,096 recorded births. Also given to 190 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from English, a re-spelling of Crystal.
Krystal is a girl's and boy's baby name of Greek origin, a phonetic respelling of Crystal, from the Greek krystallos, meaning 'ice' or 'clear as ice.' The -y- spelling became popular in the United States as a distinctive variant in the 1970s and 1980s.
Krystal peaked in American naming charts through the 1980s, with a glamorous, slightly edgy feel. The character Krystle Carrington on the television drama Dynasty gave crystal-based names a prime-time luxury association that defined the decade.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Krystal belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Sound-alike names often cluster in style even when they come from different linguistic roots. The Similar Names section below uses letter and phonetic patterns to surface names in Krystal’s sonic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Krystal was #432 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2176, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 564 | #1820 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 2,613 | #1046 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 6,822 | #461 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 19,079 | #191 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 37,496 | #93 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 6,249 | #383 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 1,720 | #799 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 514 | #1687 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 39 | #3828 | — |
The Story of Krystal
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1985, Krystal is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Krystal are most likely born between 1975 and 1995.
How rare is Krystal?
Only about 1 in every 41,379 babies born in 2024 was named Krystal — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1946, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1980s with 37,496 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Krystal by the numbers
- Enough Krystals to fill 1.1 football stadiums
- More Krystals than the population of a small U.S. town
- Meeting one Krystal per day would take 205.7 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(79 years, 1946–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 87 | #2176 |
| 2023 | 116 | #1768 |
| 2022 | 108 | #1878 |
| 2021 | 139 | #1518 |
| 2020 | 114 | #1761 |
| 2019 | 153 | #1448 |
| 2018 | 161 | #1396 |
| 2017 | 206 | #1187 |
| 2016 | 218 | #1153 |
| 2015 | 228 | #1121 |
| 2014 | 261 | #1007 |
| 2013 | 301 | #858 |
| 2012 | 328 | #817 |
| 2011 | 364 | #757 |
| 2010 | 393 | #718 |
| 2009 | 455 | #651 |
| 2008 | 557 | #553 |
| 2007 | 619 | #511 |
| 2006 | 605 | #504 |
| 2005 | 719 | #428 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Krystal as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Krystal has also been given to 190 boys in the U.S. since 1978.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Krystal a boy's or girl's name?
When was Krystal most popular?
How popular is the name Krystal?
Can Krystal be used for both boys and girls?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1946–2024