The name Bristol is a girl's name of English origin meaning "the site of the bridge".

English Names

English Names for Girls

7 Letter Girl Names

UK Baby Names

UK Girl Names

Names Ending in L for Girls

Two Syllable Names for Girls

Names that Peaked in 2019

Girl Dog Names That Start With B

Dog Names That Start With B

Animal Names for Girls

English Names that Start With B

British Names: the Ultimate Guide

The Top Cornish Names in Cornwall

Transforming Top to Uncommon Female Dog Names

The Trendiest Names of the Century

Bristol Palin, the daughter of former Alaska governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, grabbed her own share of headlines after her pregnancy and having appearing on Dancing With The Stars. She subsequently (almost) single-handedly propelled her distinctive name, derived from the name of a city in England, into the Top 1000 and up the charts. 
 
A very rare name before 2008 when Palin's mother was chosen as the Republican's vice president running mate, Bristol had sky-rocketed by 2009 when it made the charts. The number of girls called Bristol doubled between 2007 and 2008 when it was given to 65 babies. The following year, it was seven times more popular again, given to around 440 girls.
 
Bristol Palin was named in honor of the Bristol Inn where her mother was employed, along with Bristol, Connecticut , and Bristol Bay, Alaska, where her father spent his childhood. Meaning "the site of the bridge", it could also be a nod to the English city and to American Independence Day, as the Bristol 4th July Parade in Rhode Island is one of the longest running celebrations of the event.
 
Bristol remains in the US Top 1000 but it had seen a decline in use in recent years. Given to 573 girls in a recent year (along with 11 boys), it is a slightly off-beat yet familiar choice.

Baby Names So Far In They're Out

Modern Baby Names

Country Dog Names

Best Two Syllable Names

Baby Name Favorites Right Now

New Names of the 2010s

Badass Girl Dog Names

City Names for Babies

Place Names for Babies

Trending Girl Names

Baby Names Hot Today

New Baby Names

Dog Names

Best Two Syllable Girl Names

New Baby Girl Names

Badass Girl Names

Unique Dog Names

Celebrity-Inspired Baby Names

Girl Names More Popular Than You Think

Gender Neutral Cat Names 

Unisex Names for Girls

Modern Baby Girl Names

Bristol

English

Future

The name Bristol is currently ranked #635 in U.S. births. and peaked for girls at #390 in 2019. The name is most popular in BRISTOL, BRISTOL, and BRISTOL. Bristol is occasionally used for boys in 2024.

The name Bristol is a boy's name of British origin meaning "site of the bridge".

British Names for Boys

7 Letter Boy Names

UK Boy Names

Names Ending in L for Boys

Two Syllable Names for Boys

Boy Dog Names That Start With B

Animal Names for Boys

British Names

British Names that Start With B

This name of a busy British port city -- as well as of several places in America -- has a brisk and bustling air. It will now--and for years to come--be identified as a Sarah Palin name, chosen for her eldest daughter, who is now a TV personality herself.
 
Meaning "site of the bridge" in reference to the English city being divided by the River Avon, Bristol was a rare choice before 2008 when Sarah Palin was chosen to be part of the Republican election campaign. Her family, especially her then teenaged (and pregnant) daughter were then also in the spotlight, pushing the name into the Top 1000 for girls.
 
As the name became seven times more popular for girls, it also also doubled in usage for boys, peaking in 2009 when it was given to 40 boys. While it has remained stylish for girls, it has become a rarity for boys again, given to 11 babies in a recent year.

Creative Dog Names

Badass Boy Names

Modern Baby Boy Names

Badass Boy Dog Names

British

The name Bristol peaked for boys at #2907 in 1919. Bristol is also used for girls, ranking #635 in 2024.

Bristol

Bristol Rank in US Top 1000

Popularity of the name Bristol

20 Names Similar to Bristol

Famous People Named Bristol

The name Bristol in Pop Culture

The name Bristol in Nameberry Blog Posts

More Lists containing Bristol

Advanced Search

Find your type.