Fun Facts About the Name Kristel
- More than 2 thousand babies named Kristel: U.S. records list 2,992 babies given the name Kristel from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Kristel Mean?
Kristel is a spelling variant of Christel, a German and Dutch familiar form of Christine or Christiane, and it means "follower of Christ" or "Christian." The root is Latin Christianus, "Christian," which comes from Greek christianos, formed in turn from christos, "anointed one." Greek christos renders Hebrew mashiach (messiah), so the literal sense of the base word is "anointed," while the customary meaning carried by the name is "Christian" or "belonging to Christ." The name does not have a separate etymology of its own; it inherits the meaning of the Christ- name family through the short form Christel.
Kristel Name History & Origins
Kristel belongs to the large group of names built on Latin Christianus. Feminine forms such as Christina and Christiana were in use across medieval Europe, supported by the veneration of Saint Christina. From those names came shortened, affectionate forms in German- and Dutch-speaking regions, and Christel is one of them; Kristel is the same name written with an initial K.
The K spelling is the ordinary one in Dutch and in Estonian. In Estonian the name is an established given name, where the K spelling fits native spelling habits. It is also found in Scandinavian use. The Dutch actress Sylvia Kristel is a widely known bearer of the name.
How Popular is the Name Kristel?
Kristel has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1982. Its best rank was #1,016 in 1982.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,304 | 33 | 0.0021% |
| 2024 | #3,420 | 46 | 0.0029% |
| 2023 | #2,660 | 66 | 0.0041% |
| 2022 | #3,445 | 46 | 0.0028% |
| 2021 | #4,139 | 35 | 0.0021% |
| 2020 | #4,396 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #3,751 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 2018 | #6,958 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2017 | #5,453 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2016 | #3,744 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2015 | #4,111 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2014 | #4,507 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2013 | #5,076 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2012 | #3,439 | 47 | 0.0027% |
| 2011 | #1,712 | 122 | 0.0069% |
| 2010 | #4,544 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2009 | #6,006 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2008 | #6,705 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2007 | #7,593 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #7,009 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #7,013 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #6,378 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2003 | #6,457 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2002 | #5,786 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2001 | #5,957 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2000 | #5,592 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1999 | #7,993 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #7,347 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #4,747 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1996 | #3,892 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1995 | #4,771 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1994 | #4,065 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1993 | #3,383 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1992 | #3,177 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1991 | #2,496 | 50 | 0.0027% |
| 1990 | #2,587 | 46 | 0.0024% |
| 1989 | #2,155 | 57 | 0.0031% |
| 1988 | #2,136 | 54 | 0.0030% |
| 1987 | #2,818 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1986 | #2,062 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 1985 | #1,442 | 87 | 0.0051% |
| 1984 | #1,269 | 100 | 0.0059% |
| 1983 | #1,075 | 129 | 0.0077% |
| 1982 | #1,016 | 145 | 0.0086% |
| 1981 | #1,085 | 129 | 0.0077% |
| 1980 | #1,223 | 108 | 0.0065% |
| 1979 | #1,509 | 78 | 0.0049% |
| 1978 | #1,170 | 108 | 0.0071% |
| 1977 | #1,363 | 83 | 0.0054% |
| 1976 | #1,541 | 66 | 0.0045% |
| 1975 | #1,680 | 57 | 0.0039% |
| 1974 | #1,719 | 53 | 0.0036% |
| 1973 | #1,383 | 72 | 0.0049% |
| 1972 | #1,603 | 57 | 0.0037% |
| 1971 | #1,866 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 1970 | #1,810 | 49 | 0.0028% |
| 1969 | #2,116 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1968 | #2,585 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1967 | #2,400 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1966 | #2,484 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1965 | #2,373 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1964 | #2,713 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #3,253 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #3,901 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #2,898 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #3,444 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #4,824 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #5,765 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #3,800 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #3,596 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #3,370 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #5,214 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Kristel Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Kristel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kristel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.