Tristan \t-ris-tan, tr(i)-stan\ as a boy's name (also used as girl's name Tristan), is pronounced TRISS-tan. It is of Celtic origin. From a Celtic name. In Arthurian legend, Tristan (sometimes called Tristram) was a Knight of the Round Table and the tragic hero of the medieval tale "Tristan and Isolde". The tale has been retold in many poems and operas. This ancient name may derive from a Pictish original, Drostan, but the form was probably influenced by the French term "triste", meaning "sad". The name is popular in Spain.

Tristan has 9 variant forms: Tris, Tristam, Tristen, Tristian, Tristin, Triston, Tristram, Tristyn and Trystan.

Baby names that sound like Tristan are Torston, Torsten, Thurstan and Thorstan.