Unisex name · Latin
Cruz
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: crossCruz is a gender-neutral name that comes from Latin and means "cross". It is used in Spanish and Portuguese.
- Meaning
- Cross
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #7215 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Cruz
As a gender-neutral name, Cruz comes from Latin and means "cross". It is used in Spanish and Portuguese.
Cruz is also a surname: the 55th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 342,580 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Cruz on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Cruz on 2 lists.
“Cross; Spanish, a surname and first name”
From Gender neutral names, short gender-neutral names
“Cross, a devotional surname; one of Mexico's most common”
From Mexican last names, most common Mexican last names
How popular is Cruz?
In 2025, 15 girls and 1,025 boys in the US were named Cruz.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #7,215
- 15 babies, 9 per million girls
- Best rank
- #793 in 1923
- 84 babies that year
- Babies since 1890
- At least 4,232
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 14 per million |
| 1900s | 28 per million |
| 1910s | 38 per million |
| 1920s | 53 per million |
| 1930s | 49 per million |
| 1940s | 32 per million |
| 1950s | 23 per million |
| 1960s | 17 per million |
| 1970s | 17 per million |
| 1980s | 15 per million |
| 1990s | 15 per million |
| 2000s | 13 per million |
| 2010s | 15 per million |
| 2020s | 14 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,837 | #5,084 | #5,200 | #5,479 | #5,196 | #4,265 | #4,822 | #6,223 | #6,695 | #7,215 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #331
- 1,025 babies, 600 per million boys
- Best rank
- #279 in 2013
- 1,250 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 30,792
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 5 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 31 per million |
| 1910s | 44 per million |
| 1920s | 67 per million |
| 1930s | 62 per million |
| 1940s | 49 per million |
| 1950s | 41 per million |
| 1960s | 39 per million |
| 1970s | 48 per million |
| 1980s | 70 per million |
| 1990s | 109 per million |
| 2000s | 256 per million |
| 2010s | 584 per million |
| 2020s | 621 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #341 | #347 | #326 | #304 | #303 | #297 | #315 | #329 | #303 | #331 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Cruz
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- Juan CruzGod is gracious, cross (Hebrew and Latin, boy)
- StavrosThe cross (Greek, boy)
- StavroulaThe cross (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Cruz
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Latin
- LauraLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- LeoA lion (Latin, boy)
- CarinaDear, beloved (Latin, girl)
- EmiliaRival, striving to equal (Latin, girl)
- FloraFlower, blossom (Latin, girl)
- MarinaOf the sea (Latin, girl)
- MaxThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- ReginaQueen (Latin, girl)
- ValentinaStrong, healthy (Latin, girl)
- AdrianFrom Hadria (Latin, boy)
- CelesteHeavenly, of the sky (Latin, girl)
- ClaraClear, bright (Latin, girl)
- DianaDivine, heavenly (Latin, girl)
- FelixLucky, happy (Latin, boy)
- JulianaFeminine form of Julian, from the Roman family name Julius (Latin, girl)
- LuciaLight, brightness (Latin, girl)
- LunaThe moon (Latin, girl)
- MartinDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
Cruz: common questions
What does the name Cruz mean?
Cruz comes from Latin and means "cross".
Is Cruz a boy or girl name?
Cruz is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 15 girls and 1,025 boys in the US were named Cruz, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Cruz come from?
Cruz comes from Latin and means "cross". Today it is used in Spanish and Portuguese.
How popular is the name Cruz?
Cruz ranked #7,215 in the US in 2025, with 15 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Cruz?
Names spelled like Cruz include Cauã, Chun, Chuy, Crew and Cyrus.
What middle names go with Cruz?
Middle names that flow well with Cruz include Abigail, Anastasia, Blair, Daphne and Esmeralda. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.