Tristan

Meaning: (Noisy One, Laborer, Sad, Bold, In Arthurian legend, Tristan (sometimes called Tristram) was a Knight of the Round Table and the tragic hero of the medieval tale "Tristan and Isolde". The tale has been retold in many poems and operas. In Celtic legend Tristan was sent to Ireland in order to fetch Isolde, who was to be the bride of King Mark of Cornwall. Instead, Tristan and Isolde end up falling in love. Their tragic story was very popular in the Middle Ages, and the name has occasionally been used since that time. This ancient name may derive from a Pictish original, Drostan, but the form was probably influenced by the French term "triste", meaning "sad". The name is popular in Spain. )

Origin: (Welsh, Celtic, English, French)

Pronunciation: (TRISS-tan, TRIS-tən (English), trees-TAWN (French)

Gender: Male

When I see or hear the name Tristan I think of the story of Tristan and Isolde. I think the name could work in modern times as well. It is a nice name but the meaning isn't all that good. But the reader doesn't always know what a name means so you can use this character name if you wish.

EDIT 11/27/11: I found out today that my aunts step-daughter who I do think of as a cousin even if we aren't really related. I found out her and her husband had a baby boy. They named him Trystan Dwayne. He was 8 lbs 4 oz. Trystan is a variant of Tristan.