Given name & surname
Christel
“resembling clear, sparkling, brilliant glass”
Christel is a variant of Crystal. One Greek interpretation is “resembling clear, sparkling, brilliant glass.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Christel is a variant of Crystal. One Greek interpretation is “resembling clear, sparkling, brilliant glass.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Christel is a variant of Crystal. An origin associated with Crystal is Greek.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German usage, Christel is a diminutive of Christine. In German usage, Christel is a diminutive of Christian.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Christel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,712
- 0 boys · 3,712 girls
- Most popular year
- 1978
- 202 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +3%
- Steady
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 12 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 202 in 1978. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,840 as a first name in 2020; 572 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Christel’s family of names
In German usage, Christel is a diminutive of Christine. Christel has a related form in Crystal. In German usage, Christel is a diminutive of Christian.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Around the world
Christel has relatives in 3 languages.
24 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 25
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Christianfull form · German
- Crystalvariant
- Christinefull form · German
- Christianavariant · German
- Cristelvariant · German
- Christvariant · German
- Kristelvariant · German
- Christavariant · German
Show 17 moreShow fewer
- Kristalvariant · German
- Christalvariant · German
- Christellevariant · French
- Kristellvariant · German
- Christelllikely variant
- Christianefull form · German
- Christlevariant · German
- Christallevariant · German
- Kristlvariant · German
- Christlvariant · German
- Kristallvariant · German
- Kristellervariant · German
- Kristallervariant · German
- Christelsohnvariant · German
- Christleinvariant · German
- Krestelvariant · German
- Christallvariant · German
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Christel
- ChisuFinnish singerborn 1982
- Christel SchaldemoseDanish politicianborn 1967
- Christel KhalilAmerican actress (born 1987)
- Christel PascalFrench alpine skierborn 1973
- Christel TakigawaJapanese television personalityborn 1977
- Christel SteffinEast German swimmerborn 1940
- Christel FreseGerman sprinterborn 1944
- Christel Goltzsinger (1912–2008)
- Christel BodensteinGerman actress (1938–2024)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Christel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Christy
“follower of Christ” · “one who bears Christ inside”
1% boys · 99% girls
Janell
>99% girls
Kristy
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Rachell
“ewe”
>99% girls
Risha
>99% girls
Brianne
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls
Ariane
“resembling silver” · “one who is holy”
>99% girls
Maribel
Maribel is used as a given name and a surname. Maribel is connected with Mary.
>99% girls