This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- Bridge place / settlement at the bridge
- Origin
- Old English (place name)
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- BRIS-tul
Bristol comes from Old English, literally meaning "bridge place" or "settlement at the bridge," and is pronounced BRIS-tul (IPA /ˈbrɪstəl/). It's a modern girl's name with a clean, modern, bold style — a solid pick for parents who like knowing exactly where a name comes from.
Meaning & Origin of Bristol
Meaning: Bridge place / settlement at the bridge.
Origin: Old English (place name).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Bristol
BRIS-tulIPA /ˈbrɪstəl/
Popularity of Bristol
Bristol hit its high point at #390 in 2019, when 788 girls were given the name, then dropped to #635 by 2024 with 463 — a real dip over five years, based on SSA records spanning 1915 to 2024.
Names Like Bristol
These names share Bristol’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Bristol mean?
Bridge place / settlement at the bridge. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Bristol?
Bristol is pronounced BRIS-tul (IPA: /ˈbrɪstəl/).
Is Bristol a popular name right now?
Bristol peaked at #390 in 2019 and is ranked #635 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1915–2024.)
Make Bristol Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Bristol, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Bristol? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
