Cree

♂ Boy

Pronounced KREE /ˈkɹiː/Medium

Meaning: From the name of the Cree people; via French Cris from Kristineaux, from Ojibwe KinistinoMedium

In 30 seconds: Cree comes from the name of the Cree people of North America, an Algonquian-speaking nation. The English word reached us through French Cris, a shortening of Kristineaux, itself from the Ojibwe word Kinistino.

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Origin MediumNative American, English

MeaningFrom the name of the Cree people; via French Cris from Kristineaux, from Ojibwe Kinistino

U.S. rank (2025)#3096 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births39 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,128

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cree is rooted in Native American heritage, taken directly from the name of the Cree people. The path of the word is well documented: French traders rendered it as Cris from Kristineaux, which in turn came from the Ojibwe Kinistino. As a given name it carries that cultural reference rather than a translated 'meaning' in the usual sense.

The name is short, open, and easy to say, which has helped it work as a first name for both boys and girls. Actress Cree Summer, known for A Different World and as the voice of Susie Carmichael in Rugrats, is one of its best-known bearers, alongside Game Shakers actress Cree Cicchino.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Cree is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Cree — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Cree Summer (1969–present)
Canadian-American actress and voice actress known for A Different World and animated roles such as Susie Carmichael in Rugrats.
★Cree Cicchino (2002–present)
American actress known for the Nickelodeon series Game Shakers and the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias.

If you like Cree…

Chayce— shares Cree's English roots

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Ash— a fellow English choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cree mean?

Cree is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Cree?

It's commonly said KREE /ˈkɹiː/.

Is Cree a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Cree is used as a boy name.

How popular is Cree?

In 2024, Cree ranked #2011 in the U.S. for boys, with 76 births recorded.