Given name & surname
Kristel
“follower of Christ”
Kristel is a variant of Kristina. In English use, Kristina carries the interpretation “follower of Christ.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kristel is a variant of Kristina. In English use, Kristina carries the interpretation “follower of Christ.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1952. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kristel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,992
- 0 boys · 2,992 girls
- Most popular year
- 1982
- 145 babies
- 2025
- 33
- #4,304 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +48%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 33 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,304 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 47.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 145 in 1982. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,997 as a first name in 2020; 126 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.
Kristel’s family of names
In English usage, Kristel has a related form in Crystal. Kristel has a related form in Kristina. In Estonian usage, Kristel has a related form in KRISTIINA.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kristel has relatives in 4 languages.
5 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kristel
- Kristel Köbrichswimmerborn 1985
- Kristel ViigipuuEstonian biathlete (born 1990)
- Kristel Werckxcyclistborn 1969
- Kristel VerbekeBelgian singerborn 1975
- Kristel VournaGreek swimmerborn 1992
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kristel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kristin
“follower of Christ”
3% boys · 97% girls
Kristen
“follower of Christ”
6% boys · 94% girls
Krista
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Kristine
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Maribel
Maribel is used as a given name and a surname. Maribel is connected with Mary.
>99% girls
Randi
“the wolf shield” · “lustful”
1% boys · 99% girls
Lesley
“garden of hollies”
2% boys · 98% girls
Trisha
“of noble descent”
>99% girls