Crete
Feminine name of Greek origin representing the Mediterranean island.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Crete. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Crete today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Crete births was 1882 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Crete. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Crete. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1882
8 babies that year
Average age
-
1882 SSA rank
#690
Tracked since 1881
Popularity
Crete: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Crete by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Crete during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 14 | 14 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Crete
The name Crete has its origins in ancient Greek, deriving from the island of Crete located in the Mediterranean Sea. The island was known for its remarkable Minoan civilization, which flourished from around 2700 to 1450 BC. The name Crete likely stems from the ancient Greek word "Kres," referring to the Cretans, the indigenous inhabitants of the island.
The name Crete is closely tied to Greek mythology and ancient texts. In Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, Crete is mentioned as the birthplace of the legendary King Minos, the ruler of the ancient Minoan civilization. The Minoan culture was highly advanced, renowned for its sophisticated architecture, art, and seafaring prowess.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Crete can be found in the ancient Greek historian Herodotus' work, "The Histories," written in the 5th century BC. He described the island of Crete and its people, providing valuable insights into their customs and way of life.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Crete, contributing to various fields. Crete Sellars (1901-1980) was an American film actress and dancer who appeared in numerous Hollywood films during the 1920s and 1930s. Crete Bratton (1892-1965) was an American jazz musician and bandleader from New Orleans, known for his innovative cornet playing.
Crete Hutchinson (1882-1980) was a British geologist and explorer who led expeditions to the Antarctic and contributed significantly to the mapping and study of the region. Crete Browning (1882-1958) was an American entrepreneur and businessman who founded the Browning Automatic Rifle Company, which manufactured firearms and ammunition.
Crete Toulon (1920-1997) was a French fashion designer and couturier who gained recognition for his avant-garde designs and influence on the fashion industry in the mid-20th century.
It is important to note that while these examples provide insights into the name's historical significance and its bearers, the popularity and usage of the name Crete have likely evolved over time, reflecting cultural and societal trends.
People
Crete + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Crete as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Crete: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Crete?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Crete going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Crete a common name?
We classify Crete as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 14 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Crete most popular?
The single biggest year for Crete was 1882, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Crete is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Crete in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Crete a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Crete in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Crete still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Crete in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Crete can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Crete?
Find out how many people share the name Crete on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.