Tristan

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Origin: Celtic, French, Pictish

Meaning: the Old French form of Drustan, a Pictish masculine name which is a diminutive of Drust likely derived from Celtic drest meaning "riot" or "tumult, noise", likely referring to the sound made by the clanking of swords.

 The spelling of the name was likely changed to resemble the  French word triste meaning "sad", considering how the story of Tristan and Isolde ends, though it could also be related to the Middle English word trist meaning "faith, trust" or "confidence" or it could be related to the word tryst, referring to a meeting between 2 lovers in secret.

Tristan was the nephew of King Mark of Cornwall (his parents are either Blanchefleur and Rivalen, or Isabelle and Meliodas depending on the version) and was one of the Knights of the Round Table. He was sent to fetch Isolde (Iseult), his uncle's fiancee, from Ireland, but on their way back they both accidentally drink from a love potion and fall passionately in love with each other. They have a secret affair despite the circumstances and when Mark finds out, he banishes his nephew, though they both wind up dying together.


Variants:

• Tristram (English)
• Tristen 
• Tristin
• Triston 
• Drystan (Welsh)
• Trystan (Welsh)
• Drustan (Ancient Celtic)
• Drust (Ancient Celtic)
• Drest (Ancient Celtic)
• Tristāo (Portuguese)
• Tristán (Spanish)
• Drustanus (Latin)

Feminine forms:

• Trista 
• Trysta 
• Tristine
• Trystine 
• Tristina 
• Trystina