He’s a saint with a literary pedigree and a tie to triumph against the odds.
Thanks to Arthur for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Crispin.
In Shakespeare’s Henry V, the king rouses his troops to victory at Agincourt with a speech that begins, “This day is called the Feast of Crispian“ and tells them that in years to come, the survivors will commemorate the day proudly while those absent from the battlefield will envy their glory. He refers to them as “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers” - a phrase most will recognize, even if they can’t quite place the reference.
In history and theater alike, the English prevail at Agincourt in 1415. But the name has remained in obscurity.
Legend has it that Crispin and his twin brother Crispinian were well-born Romans who fled persecution, preached the gospel to the Gauls and ended up beheaded for their troubles. They’re the patron saints of shoemakers, but after Vatican II, they were removed from the liturgical calendar, entering the same saintly limbo as Saint George the dragon slayer and others whose stories are probably more fiction than fact.
If a bona fide saint’s name is a must, have no worries. In the 1700s, a monk called Crispin lived in Viterbo, Italy. He was canonized in 1982.
Crispinus was a Roman family name, derived from the Latin crispus, or curly-haired. There’s a first century Roman senator, a second century Roman consul, and even an Empress Bruttia Crispina – she was married to Commodus.
Despite the name’s long history, the bearers are few. Besides the saint and the not-quite-saint, there’s:
- Quirky actor Crispin Glover – yes, he was named after the speech;
- Crispin shows up as an elf in Terry Brooks’ Shannara series;
- Writer Avi used the name for the hero of his 2002 medieval adventure novel for young adults, Crispin: Cross of Lead.
That’s about it. Crispin has never charted in the US Top 1000, though Nancy tells us that 24 boys received the name in 2009.
The name surfaces so rarely that’s it is difficult to pin down an image or even tie the name to a particular historical era.
If anything, Crispin sounds right at home in 2011. Other Chris- names include:
- Christopher (#11)
- Christian (#23)
- Cristian (#161)
More spelling variations, including K- versions, also chart. And 18 of the current US Top 50 are two-syllable, ends-in-n names.
The result is that Crispin sounds historic, literary and still fresh. He’s daring, but not outlandish, and the opportunity to answer to Cris makes the name versatile. He’s appealing, and yes, crisp.
Note: This post originally appeared on July 23, 2008 and was revised and reposted on April 27, 2011.
I thoroughly like Crispin despite creepy Crispin Glover. “Daddy Day Care” has a Crispin. He’s the nasty one with the mouth, who ends up an angel in the end. My only pause is he shortens to Cris/Chris and I completely dislike the Chris sound on it’s own. If I could talk my other half into it, I’d use him mself. But he can’t get past creepy Crispin Glover. Talk about Celebrity wipeout.
(How about Balthazar these days? Balthazar was one of my favorite maternal great Uncles, I thnk Baz s pretty snazzy too. But Balthazar Getty is killing this name these days. *sigh* How about Balthazar as a NotD, sometime?)
Back to Crispin. Handsome, sweet, completely masculine and breaks down to Cris (for those that like him). I declare Crispin a winner; unusual, strong and solid. I’d love to see Crispin climb the charts. He’s snappier than #6 Christopher!
Ooh … Balthazar will be NotD on August 7. Great idea!
My husband actually suggested this name – both as one I should write about, and as one that we would consider for a future son. (Not that we’re having any more children once Clio makes her appearance. Then again, maybe the ultrasound was wrong …)
And I agree – Chris and Christopher strike me as such tired, unappealing choices. I have a cousin called Cristofor – the traditional Italian spelling with the final “o” lopped off. He’s just shy of 40, so it seemed like an exotic choice to his parents circa 1960-something. Today it just seems needlessly kreeatif. But Crispin would, I think, wear well on a modern child. And Christopher is a family name on both sides, so I’d even consider Crispin an “inspired by” kind of choice.
Let’s see if he gets love from the others. I’m not sure how he’ll be received!
I’m quite blasé about Crispin for some reason. I can’t deny that he sounds at once unusual yet familiar and he certainly gets extra brownie points for being light years better than tired ol’ Christopher and overtly religious Christian (I’ve always found Christian a bit weird). But, all in all, I’m just not bowled over by him…
I would love to stop hearing Christian and start hearing Crispin. It’s fresher sounding without being named after a religion, which I personally find a heavy-handed approach to child-naming.
I kind of like Crispin Glover **hangs head in shame**
I like Crispin in theory but I wonder how usable it really is. The unfortunate nickname Crispy seems to be lurking right around the corner.
Don’t forget Helena Bonham-Carter’s cousin, Crispin Bonham-Carter. Also an actor. In case any of you wanted to have a more handsome (but unfortunately less known) Crispin to refer to.
Thanks for the addition!
It’s nice. I don’t think it’s as ‘silver spooned twitish’ as Digby, Jocasta and Mungo, but it’s getting there.
Crispin “Hellion” Glover is an amazing actor. Unnerving at times but very good. I think I’d take him over Helena’s brother who’s portrayal of Mr Bingley p*ssed me off.
I kind of like Crispin but I like Caspian and Christian better. It is light years better than Christopher which is so dated.
Still like Crispin, after all this time. Snazzy, sharp and neat. His history makes him appealing and his current unpopularity adds to that appeal.
All in all, Crispin gets a silod :thumbsup: from me!
A couple years ago I woke up from a dream featuring a boy called Crispin and found myself completely in love with the name. The luster faded somewhat, but I have liked it ever since.
I went to a church summer camp called St. Crispin’s for many years growing up. Crispin has great sentimental value for me but I worry about it getting shortened to Crisp or Crispy.
Crispin has been on my list of “British sounding names” that I like for the middle spot. Also probably on my list of “Names that the husband would never agree to”!
I wasn’t familiar with the history of the name, but that does make me like it more. It does have a slightly too upper crust vibe to me. Plus it makes me think of potato chips, which are called “crisps” in the UK. (Maybe adding to my impression of the name sounding English.)
I would be slightly disappointed to name a son Crispin and then have him just prefer to be known as Cris.
Crispin is an okay name, but I’m afraid it would be constantly misheard as “Kristin.” It reminds me of Crispian Mills, the son of actress Hayley Mills who was in the ’90s British band Kula Shaker.
I remember that band! More ‘British vibe’.
Oooh … fun name fact, Virginia!
I dated a Cris in college. That was the name on his birth certificate, although he would at times claim it was short for Crispin. He didn’t leave me with the best impression of the name.
My BIL is Christian and his cousin (with the same last name) is Christopher. Too many Chris names in the family tree.
Another nn possibility is Chip, although that still relates to potatoes.
Love the idea of Chip … except you’re right that it does double the spud reference!
I went to a summer church camp called St Crispin’s too (was yours in Oklahoma, katybug?). That’s my first and strongest association with the name (which makes it feel more like a place than an actual name). Crispin Glover doesn’t negatively affect it for me, but I’m still just so-so on it.
The Feast of Crispin just makes me think of a lot of people eating potato chips.
I’m sorry, it’s just not my style!
I like Crispin. In the same book where I fell in love with the name Quinlan, there was a character named Crispin. I liked the character and the sound of it, as well. I still have Crispin on my someday list. And I don’t mind Cris as a nickname, although I wish there was something better out there.
I really love Cripsin’s sound and his connection to Shakespeare, but I do rather wish he had a better meaning — what is it with male names that begin with “c” and describe a physical feature?! Calvin, Claude, Cameron, Campbell, Cecil. . .
Other than Shakespeare, my primary reference for the name is of course Crispin Glover. I find the actor rather fascinating in a somewhat creepy way. My brother went to a presentation of his recently and said that while his poetry was really quite brilliant, that he (my brother) had never felt so offended in his life than when watching the film shown.
I love this name. And I love the idea of Crisp as a nickname. However, despite, it’s masculine lineage, the only Crispin I’ve ever known in real life was a girl. We played soccer together in the 80s and 90s, and she was a fantastic and spunky player. So, the name always sounds either feminine or gender neutral to me.
Funny, I feel the same way about Tristan. I discovered it in the 1980s when Kristen was big, so it felt feminine to me.
Agreed on Tristan. I can’t get over the meaning, though, so it just sounds more sad than specifically gendered for me.
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