Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Crystal
GirlGreek, English· “crystal, ice”
- Meaning
- crystal, ice
- Origin
- Greek, English
- Pronunciation
- KRIHS-tuhl
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,145
- US babies 2025
- 202
- Best rank
- #9 (1982)
- Peak year
- 1982
Meaning and origin of Crystal
Crystal is a Greek and English name that means “crystal, ice”.
Crystal comes from the English word for clear quartz and for fine, sparkling glass. The word traces back through Latin to the Greek krystallos, meaning ice, since the ancient Greeks believed rock crystal was a form of ice that would never melt. It belongs to the group of gemstone names, alongside Ruby, Pearl and Jade, that became popular in English in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Crystal has a bright, clear image and a strong retro feel today. Chrystal and Krystal are also used.
Other spellings with the same sound: Krystal, Cristal, Chrystal, Christal, Christel.
Popularity over time
Crystal first appears in US Social Security records in 1884. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 136 different years, starting in 1884. Its best national rank was #9 in 1982, the same year it reached its highest count of 19,099 babies. In 2025, 202 babies were named Crystal, and it ranked #1,145 nationally. That is 64% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #652 in 1920, #452 in 1950, #18 in 1980, #132 in 2000, #317 in 2010, and #1,145 in 2025. Of the 332,114 US girls named Crystal since records began, 42% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 73,757 babies. Since 2010, 7,849 more have been named Crystal.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Rebecca, Erin, Andrea, Sara, and Kristin.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Crystal ranked highest in Texas, Colorado, and Minnesota.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | #667 | 46 |
| Colorado | #818 | 6 |
| Minnesota | #869 | 5 |
| Massachusetts | #910 | 5 |
| New York | #915 | 17 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Crystal is usually pronounced KRIHS-tuhl, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with C and ends in “-al”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Krystal, Cristal, Chrystal, and Christal.
Middle names for Crystal
A few middle names that flow with Crystal: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Crystal
Similar names
Cassie Girl
KA-see
“short form of Cassandra” · Greek
#1,280
Stacey Girl
STAY-see
“short form of Anastasia; resurrection” · Greek
#3,096
Sandy Girl
SAN-dee
“short for Alexander or Alexandra” · English
#3,020
Nikki Girl
NIK-ee
“victory of the people (via Nicole)” · English
#3,504
Lexy Girl
LEHK-see
“pet form of Alexandra or Alexis” · English
#4,939
Barbie Girl
BAR-bee
“pet form of Barbara, "foreign woman"” · English
#4,277
Tessa Girl
TES-uh
“short for Theresa” · English
#311
Maggie Girl
MAG-ee
“pearl” · English
#294
Katie Girl
KAY-tee
“often said to mean 'pure'” · English
#646
Amber Girl
AM-ber
“amber, fossil resin” · English
#520
Royal Unisex
ROY-uhl
“royal, of a king” · English
#476
Angie Girl
AN-jee
“messenger; pet form of Angela” · English
#705
Lists that include Crystal
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Crystal mean?
Crystal is a Greek and English name that means “crystal, ice”.
What is the origin of the name Crystal?
Crystal has Greek and English roots. Crystal comes from the English word for clear quartz and for fine, sparkling glass.
Is Crystal a popular name?
Not especially. Crystal ranked #1,145 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Crystal a boy or girl name?
Crystal is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Crystal?
Crystal is usually pronounced KRIHS-tuhl. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings