Looking for a crisp, unexpected name for a son? Saintly, literary baby name Crispin might be one to consider.
Thanks to Arthur for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
CRISPIN IN SHAKESPEARE
If not for Shakespeare’s Henry V, this name might have faded into obscurity.
The play recounts actual events, including the battle at Agincourt on October 25, 1415. The king had amassed his troops, the English against the French. Despite being badly outnumbered, the English prevail. The battle shifts the course of the Hundred Years’ War.
History tells us that the king made a speech. While his actual words remain unknown, Shakespeare wrote these words for the king:
This day is called the Feast of Crispian …
And continues that, in years, to come, others will envy their glory. Henry calls them “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”
Odds are good that you recognize that phrase, even if you’ve never read a line of Shakespeare. After all, Band of Brothers is the celebrated 1992 Stephen A. Ambrose bestseller turned 2001 miniseries about World War II. It’s been in the American vernacular ever since.
SAINT CRISPIN
Let’s talk about the saint commemorated on October 25th, and borrowed by the king for his stirring speech.
Legend tells us that Crispin and his twin brother, Crispinian, were well-born Roman Christians who fled persecution. They ended up in Gaul, where they worked as shoemakers and spread the gospel.
Like many early Christians, persecution followed. They died martyrs, and we remember them as saints.
Little historical evidence for their lives exists. But thanks to Shakespeare, and later by composer Wagner, they remain familiar to many – at least as a date on the calendar.
Because the brothers made shoes for their day job, they’re the patron saints of shoemakers. In Wagner’s Die Meistersinger, the shoemakers enter singing a song of praise to the saint.
Early unions of shoemakers also took the saint’s name.
Many years later, a monk called Crispin from Viterbo, Italy became another Saint Crispin.
WHAT DOES THE NAME CRISPIN MEAN?
Some might say the baby name Crispin means “obscure saint.”
But there’s more to it.
The name traces its origins to Roman family name Crispinus, from the Latin crispus – curly-haired.
A handful of notables belonged to the family, including Bruttia Crispina, the wife of Emperor Commodus.
FAMOUS PEOPLE NAMED CRISPIN
Despite history galore, the baby name Crispin remains rare. You might think of:
- Quirky actor Glover. He parents chose his name for the speech from Shakespeare’s play.
- There’s also actor Crispin Bonham-Carter, part of the famous English family of actors. After about a decade, he retired from acting.
- There’s 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.
Crispin Glover is, far and way, the most famous figure. A handful of others make the name sound British and a little bit posh and privileged, too.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME CRISPIN?
As of 2023, the baby name Crispin has never ranked in the US Top 1000. Just eleven boys were given the name in 2023.
In fact, the name peaked with 39 births in the year 2007. To crack the Top 1000 in 2007 took 195 births.
Crispin sounds a little something like the popular name Christian, and shares nickname Cris with former Top Ten favorite Christopher.
That opens the door to naming a son Crispin, but calling him Cris – a fits-in/stands-out compromise.
OFFBEAT and ENDURING
The baby name Crispin offers an appealing mix of references. It blends history and literature, faith and popular culture.
Many people would recognize the name Crispin, and maybe even the famous speech, too. If not, it’s the kind of British(ish) name that feels like it ought to fit in with names like Colin and Tristan. Crispin is just a little more offbeat, but no less enduring a choice.
What do you think of the baby name Crispin?
This post first appeared on July 23, 2008. Revisions followed on April 27, 2011; September 22, 2016; and September 14, 2024.
I like Crispin a lot. It brings happy memories. When I was a kid, my dad always read a book called Mister Dog to us. The dog was called Crispin’s Crispian because he belonged to himself. It’s been a long time since I heard it but the name sticks with me.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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!
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!
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.
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.