Trystan

Trystan is the Welsh version of the Celtic name usually rendered as Tristan. Tristan is a name that dates back to medieval times and was popularized by a hero of a tragic/romance legend in Celtic mythology. There are several variations of the narrative known as “Tristan and Isolde”, but we’ll give you the abridged version. Shortly after the fall of the Roman Empire (c. 6th century), the King of Cornwall, Mark, sent his nephew Tristan to fetch the king’s future bride, an Irish princess named Isolde. However, once Tristan reached Isolde, the two of them accidentally drank a love-potion that was meant for Isolde and Mark on their wedding night. As a consequence, of course, Tristan and Isolde fell madly in love – a betrayal which infuriated King Mark. The stories diverge greatly from here, but in most cases, in the end, Tristan dies of grief without Isolde and she is left swooning over his grave. For more information on this Celtic love story, see literary references below. Our research shows differing etymological origins for the name Tristan; although there is a common theme. Some believe the name was influenced by way of the French, from the Latin word “tristis” which means “sad”, in reference to the young man’s tragic fate. Tristan is also a name that has been linked to the Picts (a now-extinct Celtic tribe who were ultimately overtaken by the Gaelic people in Scotland), and the common Pictish name Drest/Drust, a diminutive of Drustan. The Celtic word “drest” means “riot, tumult” which is also in keeping with Tristan’s tragic love story. The popular legend also inspired a 19th century opera, “Tristan und Isolde,” composed by Richard Wagner. As a popular modern-day masculine name in the United States, a few respellings emerged. Tristan, however, is the classic spelling. And Tystan is the Welsh spelling. So if you like Celtic names, we advise you go with one of these two more legitimate spellings. The others are much more “Americanized”.